Prince Charles has visited the village where his beloved great-uncle Lord Mountbatten was murdered 35 years ago.

He spent 10 minutes in a peace garden in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, before heading to the seafront to speak to some of the hundreds of locals who turned out to greet him.

The prince, who has been on a tour of Ireland, earlier spoke of the loss of the "grandfather I never had" at the hands of the IRA.

He also described current UK relations with the Irish Republic as a "blessed era of friendship".

Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was Prince Philip's uncle, was blown up by a remotely-detonated bomb on his boat in August 1979.

Two of his relations, including his grandson, and a 15-year-old Irish boy, Paul Maxwell, also died in the attack.

During his visit Prince Charles met Mullaghmore residents involved in the rescue and some of Lord Mountbatten's former staff.

He was accompanied by Timothy Knatchbull, Lord Mountbatten's grandson, who was pulled from the water after his twin brother Nicholas was killed.

He also had a private meeting with Paul Maxwell's family - the Irish schoolboy was helping out on the boat when the bomb exploded.

Richard Wood-Martin, one of the people who helped rescue survivors, said he hoped the visit would bring "closure".

He was only 200m away on another boat when the bomb went off.

"There was a puff of smoke, a loud bang and a shower of bits of timber and the boat was gone," said Mr Wood-Martin.

In a speech earlier at Sligo arts centre, Prince Charles said his great-uncle's death had helped him understand the Troubles.

He said he hoped visiting the spot could continue the "healing process" that had been under way since the IRA ceasefire in 1994.

The Prince told visitors: "I am only too deeply aware of the long history of suffering which Ireland has endured ... In August 1979, my much-loved great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was killed.

"I could not imagine how we would come to terms with the anguish of such a deep loss since, for me, Lord Mountbatten represented the grandfather I never had.

"So it seemed as if the foundations of all that we held dear in life had been torn apart irreparably.

"Through this dreadful experience, though, I now understand in a profound way the agonies borne by so many others in these islands, of whatever faith, denomination or political tradition."

He later attended a multi-Christian religion service at St Columba's Church at Drumcliffe, which he said he was doing in the hope the next generation would continue the peace process.

He is the first British royal to visit the village since the attack, and will take part in a service of peace and reconciliation to mark the occasion.

In a speech in Sligo, the heir to the British throne said the death of the 'grandfather he never had' means he understands 'in a profound way' the agonies of all those who have lost loved ones in the Troubles.

He said he hopes that shared history can lead to a brighter future.

Big crowds have turned out for the royal visit:

Not sure Sligo ever saw this day coming #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/roCUMWhRYt

— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) May 20, 2015

Charles, and his wife Camilla, will visit the site later this evening and take part in a peace and reconciliation service.

Yesterday, in Galway, he meet Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

He and Mr Adams shook hand in public, and then the three held a private meeting.

Neither the Prince nor his aides have made any comment about what was discussed, but afterwards Mr Adams told reporters: "Reconciliation is an enormous challenge for all of us."

"It is a personal process of dialogue, engagement and compromise. It's about healing the past and building a new, better and fairer future based on equality."

These Sligo locals say it is a milestone day for the county.