Britain's Prince Andrew has given the royal seal of approval to a Northern Irish apprenticeship campaign.
The Duke of York launched The Belfast Telegraph's new apprenticeships campaign '50 Jobs in 50 Days' - which aims to help the young and unemployed in the country -yesterday (11.03.14).
During the first visit to the newspaper by a member of the royal family, Prince Andrew congratulated them on their previous campaign to encourage more companies to provide apprenticeships and said he hopes the new initiative will be even more successful.
Speaking to the newspaper, he said: "Congratulations on the idea of continuing the work you have already done. I wish your campaign every success."
The 54-year-old royal - who is Queen Elizabeth's second son and third child - also emphasised the importance of businesses giving young people a chance.
He added: "I can guarantee you that most young people are not trying to avoid work."
The Belfast Telegraph will work with local and national companies, colleges and the Department for Employment and Learning to try and achieve their aim of creating 50 apprenticeships in 50 days by May 1.

The Attorney General's attempts to block the release of letters written by Britain's Prince Charles to government ministers have today (12.03.14) been ruled "unlawful".
Dominic Grieve imposed a veto in 2012 to prevent letters written by the Prince of Wales, to members of the government between 2004 and 2005, from being released after the Upper Tribunal had already ruled that the public were entitled to see the communications under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
However, Journalist Rob Evans challenged the decision and the Court of Appeal have now ruled that the certificate be quashed, because Mr Grieve had "no good reason" for overriding the original decision.
Responding to the verdict, a spokesman for Mr Grieve said: "We are very disappointed by the decision of the court.
"We will be pursuing an appeal to the Supreme Court in order to protect the important principles which are at stake in this case."
The 57-year-old politician has argued that releasing the letters would undermine the principle of the heir to the thrown remaining politically neutral and said the correspondence between Prince Charles and the ministers were part of his "preparation for becoming king".
Mr Evans - who is a journalist for the Guardian newspaper - claims he is fighting to shed more light on the way in which Queen Elizabeth's eldest son "seeks to influence government ministers even though he holds no elected position".

John Altman learned of Nick Cotton's death from June Brown.
The 'EastEnders' legend - who was last seen in the show in 2009 - admits it was a surprise to learn his villainous alter-ego would be killed off in a new storyline and has revealed it was his on-screen mother, who plays Dot Branning, who broke the news to him.
Speaking backstage at the TRIC Awards in London yesterday (11.03.14), he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I heard about it from June - my old ma, I can rely on her."
Viewers watched as a bereft Dot was informed of her wayward son's death on Monday night (10.03.14) and Nick's off-screen exit will mark a new chapter for the soap stalwart, as her long-lost grandson Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett) will soon arrive in Walford.
John added: "It was a bit of a surprise. It's an interesting story, the way it's all turned out ... it's a bit odd because I'm not there."
The actor also praised 'EastEnders' bosses for introducing another member of the Cotton clan, saying: "I was surprised, but delighted really ... more the merrier! Especially as he is named after Nick's dad, Charlie."
While the door has now closed on his time in 'EastEnders', John, 62, remains close to June, 87.
He enthused: "I think she is a wonderful woman and deserves every award they could give her.
"I can call her up any time and have a chat - if I can get hold of her, she's a busy lady! She doesn't live far from me, we both live in Surrey, so I can just drive over there in half an hour [to see her]."

Simon Cowell "begged" Cheryl Cole to return to 'The X Factor'.
The returning judge has claimed that show boss Simon cried and pleaded with her to rejoin him on the panel of the ITV singing competition this year.
Cheryl quipped: "There's only so much begging one can take. It's not nice to see a grown man cry. It went on for a few years. It was uncomfortable."
The 30-year-old singer, who was famously axed from the US version of 'The X Factor' in 2011 after just one episode, has put the past behind her and claims it's the right time for her to make her sensational TV comeback.
She explained: "If you'd asked me the previous two years, I'd have said, 'Absolutely not!' This year it just feels right. We had a hit show last time I was on it, so I'm really excited to be on it again."
And Cheryl has also drawn a line under her bad blood with new dad Simon, 54, following her humiliating axe from 'The X Factor' USA.
She added: "Once I had said my piece to Simon - which I put in my autobiography - I don't hold grudges, I just remember facts.
"The facts I remember are that I won my first two 'X Factor' series and I had two in the final of my last year. The rest is irrelevant to me. I see this is as a step forward. We obviously have a great friendship. We banter off each other and bring the best out of each other when we make decisions."
Meanwhile, Simon has admitted it was a mistake to fire Cheryl from the US version of 'The X Factor'.
In a joint press conference with Cheryl yesterday (11.03.13), he said: "It was a silly decision. Of course I was wrong and I don't mind admitting when I am wrong. If I could turn the clock back, I would do it differently, if I am honest. But I can't.
"I realised I wanted to make the show close to where we left it. It was a fantastic year. And I had to get Cheryl back."

Cheryl Cole wants Louis Walsh sacked from 'The X Factor'.
The former Girls Aloud star is eyeing another "strong woman" to join herself and Simon Cowell as judges on the talent show, but the pair have disagreed on whether to keep veteran judge Louis - who has appeared on all 10 previous series of the show.
Simon told The Sun newspaper: "I want to keep Louis", while Cheryl admitted she would "prefer another woman".
This isn't the first time the pair have had a conflict of interest, as they became embroiled in a bitter feud after Cheryl left the panel in 2010 to join Simon on the US version of the show but was axed after filming just one episode.
Simon lured Cheryl's return with a £1.5 million contract and the final say on who joins the panel, and the 54-year-old mogul says he wants to keep her happy.
He explained:" When Cheryl came back we decided we'd agree together. I'm not going to put her beside someone she hates."
However Cheryl insists she doesn't want to be outnumbered by males following speculation that Olly Murs is being lined up as a judge.
She added: "I'm kind of hoping I don't have to deal with three guys because otherwise I'll have no hair - I'll be pulling it out all the time!"

The new series of 'Vicious' will see Freddie and Stuart "out and about".
Writers of the sitcom have listened to feedback from fans who felt the bickering couple - played by Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi - being seen only in their London flat made the show seem dated, so the actors will do much more location filming for the next set of episodes.
Derek said: "We start filming in the summer and we are doing six more episodes.
"But we are getting booted out of the flat for the new series.
"The producers felt that we should leave our fictional flat in Soho as we were getting too stuck in there."
However, the couple's "pokey" home will still be a feature of the new episodes.
Derek added to the Daily Star newspaper: "We were stuck in that pokey flat so you may see us out and about in London. That flat may be used at times but we will be out for the next series."
Ian and Derek were recently praised by their 'Vicious' co-star Iwan Rheon - who plays Ash Weston in the hit ITV show - as "real gentlemen".
He said: "They're just great guys, Ian and Derek. They're real legends. They're really polite and real gentlemen, you know? I guess that's a real good thing for young actors to see how friendly they are with everyone and how they respect everyone.
"There's no sort of grandness to them and I think that's really good."

Chris Tarrant is recovering in hospital after suffering a stroke on an 11-hour flight.
The ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' host was rushed to Charing Cross Hospital in west London from Heathrow Airport after falling ill on a plane from Burma.
His agent and manager, Paul Vaughan, told The Sun newspaper: "The doctor describes it as a mini-stroke, probably brought on by the asthma and bronchitis on the plane. They found a clot which they managed to break up.
"It was a clot in the leg and that can immediately go to the brain or lungs."
The TV veteran is being looked after by the same consultant who cared for BBC news presenter Andrew Marr, who had a huge stroke in January last year.
Chris, 67, was returning from filming a fishing show in Burma on March 1 when he fell ill and has since started to make trips to his London flat but is yet to return home on a permanent basis.
His agent added: "He is determined to leave hospital. But he's not going back to work. This is a nasty wake-up call."
Doctors reportedly first thought the star had an asthma attack before discovering a potentially fatal blood clot in his leg.
He underwent emergency treatment to destroy it before it could dislodge and put his life in further danger.
Chris recently finished filming 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?', which ended after 16 years on air last month.

Lara Stone has nothing to "wish for".
The 30-year-old model - who has 10-month-old son Alfred with husband David Walliams - is delighted with her life since getting sober in 2009 and sometimes can't believe how lucky she has been in her career.
Speaking to the April edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine, she said: "I have a house, a husband, a good job, a beautiful baby - at the moment I don't have anything else to wish for...
"When I stop and think about it - which I don't do very often - I think, 'This doesn't make any sense.'
"I look around and see thousands of girls who could have had this career."
Lara checked into rehab to receive help for alcoholism five years ago after realising she needed to change her life.
She said: "One day I woke and thought, 'I can't live like this anymore.' "
And the Dutch beauty admitted alcohol used to make her aggressive.
She added: "I've picked a lot of fights in my day, but no one ever wanted to hit me back."
Lara discussed her first date with David, who she married in 2010, saying she was "so nervous" before they went out for the first time - and recalled a disastrous end to the evening.
She said: "I was in the cab home afterward and thought, I should text him and thank him for dinner. When I did, he texted back, 'Who's this?' "

Alec Baldwin has put his Hamptons home on the market.
The '30 Rock' actor is planning on selling his sprawling New York property ,which comes accustomed with an outdoor swimming pool and is surrounded by green.
Talking at the at the Guild Hall Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards on Monday (10.03.14), he said: "I have a house for sale as well!. It has five bedrooms, a swimming pool and wood-burning fireplace."
The star recently confessed he's ready to leave New York and is beginning to "crave" Los Angeles after over 30 years in the Big Apple because he thinks he would be able to give wife Hilaria and their six-month-old daughter Carmen a more peaceful and private life.
He said: "To be a New Yorker meant you gave everybody five feet. You gave everybody their privacy. And now we don't leave each other alone. Now we live in a digital arena, like some Roman Colosseum, with our thumbs up or thumbs down...
"I probably have to move out of New York. I just can't live in New York anymore. Everything I hated about LA I'm beginning to crave. LA is a place where you live behind a gate, you get in a car, your interaction with the public is minimal. I used to hate that. But New York has changed.
"I want my newest child to have as normal and decent a life as I can provide. New York doesn't seem the place for that anymore."

Neil Patrick Harris "loves" the fact women still want to marry him despite him being gay.
The 'How I Met Your Mother' actor - who has three-year-old twins, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace, with his long-term partner David Burtka - insists girls have "no issue" with his sexuality and he still attracts a lot of female attention.
He told OUT magazine: "I've found that a lot of girls have no issue with me being gay... They still want to marry me. And I love that."
The 40-year-old star, who plays womanising Barney Stinson on 'How I Met Your Mother', will appear on the show for the last time on March 31, as the Fox series comes to an end after nine seasons.
He will then appear on Broadway in 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch', playing the lead part of a transgender glam rock singer from East Germany and admits it has brought up his "homophobic insecurities".
He admitted: "Hedwig is bringing up a lot of super insecure things within me. I have never thought drag was intoxicating, I've never had a fun drunken Halloween in drag, never been in heels, really. I've lived my whole life being attracted by masculinity - it's why I like guys.
"I'm not a super effete person, and I have to turn into that, and in doing so it brings up a lot of homophobic insecurities within myself."
But the actor insists he's prepared to put everything into his performance and "embrace" the transgender role.
He continued: "Part of Hedwig is Iggy Pop in all of his f***ed-up glory. So I'm looking forward to squatting down in front of the first row and having people spit in my mouth. It's that kind of show. I'm anxious, one night, to fall backwards and be led on my back by people with their hands outstretched.
"I don't think that will ever happen, but that's the vibe I'm looking for, that's the vibe I have to embrace. I don't f***ing care, you gotta go to a nasty place."

Jessie J struggles with the stress of fame.
The 'Price Tag' singer spoke candidly to the audience during her intimate gig at Rock Wood in New York City on Monday (10.03.14), admitting she feels pressure to act "perfect" all the time and be on form for her fans even when she doesn't feel like it.
According to the MailOnline, she said: "Please forgive me if I get this wrong, I've never sung it before. It's called... 'You Don't Really Know Me'. And it's really honest about how I felt in the last year. Fame makes you feel like you have to be happy all the time and people want you to be perfect all the time. And sometimes you don't want to take a photo with someone, sometimes you don't want to have a conversation with someone and that's not about being mean, that's about being human.
"And that's the biggest thing that I struggle with - that sometimes people need something from me that I don't have to give and I pretend sometimes that I am OK when I'm not. It makes me feel like I'm going mad and so I wrote this song called 'You Don't Really Know Me'."
Jessie is currently in the US recording some new tracks, and admitted she had written the song just two days ago.
The singer was thrilled with the crowd's positive reaction and branded the concert one of her most "memorable" to date.
She enthused on Twitter: "One of my fav shows I've ever done! Ever! The audiences appreciation for my lyrics and voice was unreal! Made me feel so loved and hungry to give a super memorable performance! Made me work hard! NYC I really have a crush on you! Thank you @rockwoodnyc #bigwhiteroom (sic)".

Lily Allen has lost her wedding dress.
The 'Our Time' singer - who has daughters Ethel, two, and Marnie, 14 months, with husband Sam Cooper - has no idea what has happened to the Chanel Couture gown she donned at her wedding reception in July 2011.
In an interview with Miquita Oliver - who was one of her bridesmaids - for TV channel 4 Music, she was asked the most expensive item in her wardrobe and replied: "Oh you do not want to know! There's two bits to this answer. One, it's not in my wardrobe -- it's missing. And two, it's my Chanel Couture wedding dress that's worth about £200,000.
"I don't know where it is."
Lily had two dresses for her nuptials, a Delphine Manivet gown with a fishtail skirt, lace overlay and lace sleeves teamed with an elaborate and lengthy lace headdress with a flower detail on the side of her veil for the ceremony, and the Karl Lagerfeld-custom created loose-fitting gown with billowing sheer sleeves and elaborate embroidery, which she wore for the reception.
It is unclear whether she knows the whereabouts of her other wedding gown.