It is understood that he has two engagements scheduled during his flying visit, with one set to take place at Ulster University’s new Belfast campus.
The Prince recently described the past year as “brutal” and “probably the hardest year of my life” as he dealt with his wife and father battling cancer.
In a video interview during the beginning of his visit to Cape Town in South Africa for the Earthshot price awards ceremony he said: “Honestly, it’s been dreadful,” he said.
“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
The visit came the same day the prince was crowned world’s sexiest bald man for the second year in a row, beating huge movie stars to top spot.
A study by PR agency Reboot Online placed William ahead of Hollywood A-listers including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Stanley Tucci, Thierry Henry, and Vin Diesel.
Today’s surprise tour marks the Prince’s first return to the city since June 2023, when he toured the UK to promote his Homewards initiative aimed at combating homelessness.
During his last visit crowds of cheering well-wishers gathered on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast to cheer the heir to the throne on a rainy morning.
In 2022 the Prince and Princess of Wales made a one-day trip to Northern Ireland where they visited charities and community organisations, including suicide prevention charity PIPS in north Belfast.
It was their first visit since receiving their royal titles following the accession of King Charles III.
While William and wife Kate are most commonly known as the Prince and Princess of Wales, they hold distinct titles in Northern Ireland.
William holds the title of Baron of Carrickfergus, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II during his 2011 wedding. While Kate is officially recognized as the Baroness of Carrickfergus, she is also affectionately known as the Countess of Carrick in Norther Ireland.