The next in line to the British throne officially opened the rebuilt Royal Victoria Hospital bearing the name of his great-great-great grandmother which was originally opened by Edward VII, his great-great-grandfather.
Yesterday's visit, 100 years and 38 days after the original ceremony, was remarkable if for no other reason than that it passed off so unremarkably.
After all, princes from the House of Windsor tend not to visit anywhere near the Falls Road.
Sinn Féin had been invited. Sinn Féin didn't bother. It was an arrangement which seemed to suit just about everyone at the hospital, which is located in the heart of the republican constituency represented by Gerry Adams.
There was a protest - of sorts. It assembled at one entrance to the hospital complex. A dozen quickly became 40 and then maybe 100. But it melted away just as quickly as it had assembled and well in advance of the royal motorcade.
By the time a well polished royal shoe touched the Tarmac the only shouts were from the enthusiastic crowd of health service workers and others.
The applause seemed as spontaneous as it was warm. It was over quickly, but the feeling was unavoidable that the same welcome would have been offered to anyone whose images grace the pages of glossy magazines.
Momentary unease was prompted by a wasp which was spotted circling the reception party as the prince began his umpteenth meet-and-greet of the day. The prince, true professional that he is, did not join in the flurry of swiping.
The new hospital stands gleaming beside the severe red-brick architecture of the old campus. The foyer bears the hallmarks of the new century, including the de-rigueur stainless steel, plate glass and bare, wood-effect floors.
The prince, adjusting his shirt cuffs, mingled easily amid hundreds of invited guests.
He spoke warmly of the hospital's world-wide reputation for excellence and the conviction of those who worked there.
There was no reference whatsoever to the Troubles or to the fact that the reputation and dedication of the hospital which he praised were forged in the heat of 30 years of conflict.
The prince mingled a little more and offered a couple of cheery waves to the nurses waving to him from overlooking windows before being swept away to his next official engagement.