Wednesday 24 May 2023

Royal Visit NI

The King and Queen this afternoon arrived at Belfast City Airport and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle DBE).

Their Majesties drove to the Coronation Garden in Hazelbank Park, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim (Mr. David McCorkell), the Garden Designer (Mr. Diarmuid Gavin) and the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey (Alderman Stephen Ross).

The King, escorted by the Mayor, and The Queen, escorted by the Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council (Mrs. Jacqueline Dixon), toured the Garden, meeting the design, construction and gardening teams, and viewing the Coronation Robe Project and the Coronation Microgreens Horticulture Project.

Their Majesties met representatives from the local community and officially opened the Coronation Garden.

The King and Queen afterwards drove to Hillsborough Castle and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr. Gawn Rowan-Hamilton) and the Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces (Mr. John Barnes).

Their Majesties met Mrs. Catherine Roulston (Principal of Blythefield Primary School) and pupils from the School who contributed to a winning entry of the School Coronation Bench Competition.

The Rt Hon. Christopher Heaton-Harris MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) was received in audience by The King at Hillsborough Castle.

The King and Queen later attended an Afternoon Party in the garden of Hillsborough Castle.


THURSDAY, 27TH MAY.

The King this morning visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh (the Earl of Caledon KCVO) and the Dean (the Very Rev Shane Forster).

His Majesty met Church Leaders and representatives of the parish, community and youth work.

The King and Queen afterwards visited the Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre, Market Street, Armagh, for a Celebration of Culture and were received by the Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council (Councillor Paul Greenfield) and the Chief Executive of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council (Mr. Roger Wilson).

His Majesty met representatives of The Prince's Trust and The Prince's Foundation whilst Her Majesty met members of the Knit and Natter group and the Community Intercultural Programme group, before The King and Queen met local food artisans and viewed a performance on the stage.

Their Majesties this afternoon visited the Coronation Community and Heritage Celebration at Enniskillen Castle and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (the Viscount Brookeborough KG).

The King and Queen posted letters in the Kindness Postbox before visiting the Big Coronation Lunch.

His Majesty subsequently met groups of Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards at the Volunteer and Community Village, before The King and Queen viewed a performance of local Irish and Scottish dancers.

Their Majesties afterwards viewed activities taking place on Lough Erne from Broadmeadow, met members of the local community and viewed a display of Fermanagh's farming heritage.

The Queen this morning visited Armagh Robinson Library, Abbey Street, Armagh.

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