Prince Andrew presents Royal Irish with their colours

The ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon. Credit: UTV

Prince Andrew has presented the Royal Irish Regiment with their colours in Belfast.

Thousands of people turned out at Titanic Slipways on Saturday to watch the event, which was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

A formal ceremony was held, with the Duke of York officially presenting the 1st and 2nd battalions with the colours, and a parade took place.

Brigadier Mike Murdoch, Deputy Colonel of the RIR, said the event was a “tremendous honour”.

A parade was held at Titanic Slipways. Credit: UTV

Colours are presented to regiments every 25 years, and represent both their history and their future.

This was the first time the formal event has been staged in public here.

Sergeant Brian Collins from Connaught said a lot of planning and preparation had gone into it.

"This is something the guys have been looking forward to, particularly the guys from Northern Ireland, it's the first time they get the opportunity to have a parade here," he explained.

The new colours were consecrated by the Chaplain General to Her Majesty's Land Forces, the Reverend David Coulter.