Meghan Markle joked that she and Prince Harry will soon need a host of baby products as she was shown an innovative range for new-borns on a visit to a tech hub in Belfast.
When the entrepreneurs behind the non-slip baths told the royal couple they could have one free of charge, Harry quipped: “How many have you got?”
His US fiancee laughed and gestured to all the products on view, and said: “I’m sure at some point we’ll need the whole (lot).”
Harry and Meghan met Adam and Sinead Murphy – the husband and wife team behind Shnuggle baby products – as they toured Catalyst Inc in the regenerated docklands of east Belfast.
When Mrs Murphy showed the prince their “bum bump” device to prevent babies slipping in the bath, he joked: “That takes all the fun out of bath time.”
Later, the designer said the couple had taken a keen interest.
“Probably the one that captured their attention was the baby bath,” she said.
Catalyst Inc features some of Northern Ireland’s brightest young entrepreneurs (Niall Carson/PA)
“Its ‘bum bump’ stops baby slipping, so as soon as Harry saw it he said: ‘Oh yeah, it stops them doing that’ so I just wonder if he has been involved in bath time with his niece or nephew because he instantly got it.”
During the visit to the not-for-profit organisation aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial innovation, the couple also encountered a somewhat gory sight when they met Nuala Campbell, who specialises in prosthetic props for the film industry.
She showed Harry and Meghan dismembered feet, hands and fingers made from her unique gelatine mix.
The Prince was brave enough to touch one of the lifeless rubbery fingers, though he appeared to regret it.
“That’s horrible,” he said, as Meghan gasped: “Oh my goodness.”
Nuala Campbell and Eoin Lambkin from Titanic FX show Prince Harry and Meghan Markle some prosthetic limbs used in the movie industry (Niall Carson/PA)
Afterwards, Mrs Campbell said it was a reaction most people had to the life-like props that are used in shows such as hit fantasy drama Game Of Thrones.
“I think everyone when they touch it for the first time is creeped out,” she said.
Earlier, as they arrived for what was their third engagement of the day, the couple waved at well-wishers who had braved the rain to catch a glimpse of the royal visitors.
Inside, they were greeted by a number of dignitaries, including Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson.
As they left, Meghan briefly took a detour to shake the hands of some of those still gathered outside, hoping to say hello to the royal couple.