Sinn Féin's Vice President and Northern Ireland's deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill has pulled out of a meeting with the Prince of Wales because of his role as colonel in chief of the British Army's Parachute Regiment.
A Coroner ruled this day last week that the deaths of 10 people killed during an operation by the Regiment a Ballymurphy in west Belfast in 1971 were unjustified.
Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall are on a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.
In a statement Ms O'Neill said: "I met Prince Charles on his last visit to the north last September and recently expressed our condolences to him and his family on the death of his father.
She said a meeting on this occasion was not possible.
"The British Royals have made a very positive contribution to the development of peace and reconciliation," the statement said.
A former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast city and historian didn't attend an earlier engagement with the Royal couple.
Earlier, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to the "inspiring" efforts of youth workers to bring about reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
In the second engagement of their visit, the pair met with a number of youth workers at the headquarters of the Education Authority in Belfast city centre.
Charles and Camilla heard reflections from young people living in deprived areas on how youth workers had impacted their lives.
In a speech, Charles hailed the "tireless work" being done to bring about reconciliation.
"I cannot tell you how really inspiring it has been to hear of the tireless work being carried out by youth workers on all sides of the community, and I just wanted to take this opportunity, if I may, to pay special tribute to your dedication and commitment to the cause of peaceful co-existence," he said.
"We must never underestimate the risk, and of course the cost, of holding to peaceful ways, and how much determination and courage is necessary.
"All of you whom I have met here today and many more of your colleagues in your communities have shown those qualities in the most challenging circumstances.
"We owe you a deep debt of gratitude and above all of admiration."
Among the work discussed at the engagement were schemes to stop bonfire builders from engaging in anti-social behaviour.
He added: "Whenever I visit, I never cease to be profoundly moved by the work that is being done to heal the pain of the past, to bring understanding and reconciliation in the present and to build hope for the future.
"All who love this very special part of the world can only wish you renewed strength of spirit and resolve as you take forward this work of such vital importance to these islands."
In their first engagement of the day the British royal couple were told about the rich and varied history of Belfast.
They visited Belfast City Hall where they were welcomed by Lord Mayor Frank McCoubrey.
Upon arrival, the royal couple viewed a mural by Belfast artist John Like which was painted for the Festival of Britain in 1950 before viewing a copy of a John Conor painting which showed the State Opening of Stormont in 1921.
Prince Charles then met and discussed the centenary of Northern Ireland with local historians.
The duchess, meanwhile, heard about Belfast's ambition to become a UNESCO City of Music and was introduced to the women's steering group behind the bid.
Before leaving, they met with council staff who had worked in the community in Northern Ireland throughout the pandemic.
The Prince of Wales also visited the historic Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
Prince Charles met a number of workers who represent the third and fourth generations of their families to work at the shipyard.
He unveiled a plaque for the 160th anniversary of Harland and Wolff and was presented with a photograph of his father visiting the shipyard in 1977.
Additional reporting PA
