Southside rolls out the red carpet for Harry and Meghan

“YOU’VE got the best job…you’re the Culture Minister,” Prince Harry told a delighted Minister Josepha Madigan during a friendly chat at Glencairn House on the royal couple’s first official visit to Ireland last week.

The British royals’ two day visit included trips to Trinity College, Áras an Uachtaráin and Croke Park

They also attendws a reception at Glencairn House – the official residence of the British Ambassador to Ireland.

Guests at the reception featured well-known faces across a broad spectrum of areas including politicians, sports stars, fashion designers, actors, poets and campaigners. Some of the celebrities invited to the event included actress Caitriona Balfe, Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman, jockey Ruby Walsh, actor Barry Keoghan and presenter Lucy Kennedy.

Also at the event was Dublin Rathdown TD, Minister Josepha Madigan, who told The Duchess of Sussex her husband and two sons were huge ‘Suits’ fans, adding “they will absolutely kill me for saying that to you.”

In response Prince Harry turned to his wife and said: “You better not tell her about the conclusion of series seven so!”

The Fine Gael TD met Prince Harry and his wife at the garden party in the minister’s own constituency.

Minister Madigan told the Duke how charming she thought his father Prince Charles was. The minister had hosted a reception for Prince Charles and his wife Camilla in Kerry last month. She also told Prince Harry how she thought both Charles and Camilla possessed tremendous patience and a wicked sense of humour while still retaining that personal touch for everyone they met.

Later Prince Harry left guests giggling after making a cheeky jibe at his father Charles’s expense. He said: “My father was telling us just last week how much he had enjoyed his recent visit to Cork.

“It’s nice to know he didn’t bore you senseless,” added Harry which left guests giggling.

As the couple were being introduced to several other VIPs, Harry turned to Minister Madigan and said: “You’ve got the best job, you’re the Minister for Culture.”

Separately, young music graduates from The Liber8 Music Project in Dublin 8, performed at the CHQ Building in Customs House Quay for the Duke and Duchess.

The students, who are aged between 14 and 17 and live within and around the historic Liberties area, performed various hits, as well as a an original song, for the newlyweds. They followed the performances of two other local bands, Moon Looks On and Leila Jane.