The Prince of Wales

His Royal Highness The Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Rothesay, and Cambridge, Earl of Carrick and Strathearn, Baron of Renfrew, Baron Carrickfergus, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, KG, KT, GCB, is 44 today.

• Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter 
• Extra Knight of the Most Ancient & Most Noble Order of the Thistle
• Colonel, Welsh Guards
• Commander, Royal Navy
• Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army
• Wing Commander, Royal Air Force
• Personal Aide-de-Camp to HM The King
• Privy Counsellor, 2016
• Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, 2024

The King's Official Birthday

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY CHARLES THE THIRD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter and the Thistle, Order of St Patrick, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael & St George, Royal Victorian Order, and Order of the British Empire.

Today is The King's Official Birthday.

Since 1748, the Trooping the Colour ceremony or The King's Birthday Parade at Horse Guards Parade in London has marked the Sovereign's official birthday.

The list of Birthday Honours is also usually announced on the eve of the Official Birthday celebrations.

Coronation Day

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY CHARLES THE THIRD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter, Thistle, St Patrick, Bath, St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, and the British Empire

Today is the third anniversary of the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen at Westminster Abbey.

God save The King and Queen.

His Majesty's Wedding Day

TODAY is His Majesty's twenty-first Wedding Anniversary. 

On the 9th April, 2005, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales married Mrs Camilla Rosemary Parker-Bowles (née Shand) at Windsor Guildhall, Berkshire.

Thereafter Mrs Parker-Bowles became known as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall; and on The King's accession to the throne, Her Majesty The Queen Consort.

The honeymoon was spent at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire.

The Duke of Edinburgh

His Royal Highness THE PRINCE EDWARD ANTONY RICHARD LOUIS, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, and Viscount Severn, KG, KT, GCVO, is 62 today.

• Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
• Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thisle
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have two children: James, styled Earl of Wessex, and the Lady Louise Windsor.

His Royal Highness, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, was created Duke of Edinburgh by His Majesty The King on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

The Prince Edward was appointed an Extra Knight  of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle by The King on his sixtieth birthday.

The Duchess of Edinburgh

THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH, GCVO, is 61 today.

Her Royal Highness's full style is as follows,

Her Royal Highness The Princess Edward Antony Richard Louis, Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Wessex and Forfar, and Viscountess Severn.

HRH received the Royal Family Order of QUEEN ELIZABETH II in 2004.

She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 2010.

In 2024 Her Royal Highness received the Royal Family Order of King Charles III.

The badge of the Royal Victorian Order features on The Duchess of Edinburgh's armorial bearings.

The Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales GCVO CH is 44 today.

Née Catherine Elizabeth Middleton at Reading, Berkshire, Her Royal Highness's full style and titles are as follows,

Her Royal Highness Princess William Arthur Philip Louis, Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester, Duchess of Cornwall, Rothesay and Cambridge, Countess of Carrick and Strathearn, Baroness of Renfrew, and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Her Royal Highness received the Royal Family Order of ELIZABETH II in 2017, and was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 2019; Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour, 2024; and the Royal Family Order of CHARLES III in 2025.

The King's Birthday

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY Charles the Third, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, St Patrick, the Bath, St Michael & St George, Royal Victorian Order, the British Empire etc.

THE KING is 77 today.

His Majesty was born at Buckingham Palace, London, on the 14th November, 1948, and ascended the throne, upon the death of his dearly beloved mother, ELIZABETH II, on the 8th September, 2022.

The Sovereign's birthday  is normally marked publicly by a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, London, and 21-gun salutes throughout the other nations of the United Kingdom.

God Save The King.

Accession Day

HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY CHARLES THE THIRD,  BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter, Thistle, St Patrick, Bath, St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, and the British Empire.

TODAY is the third anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne.

The new King makes a statement following Her Majesty's death

On the 7th September, 1952, His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, learned that his dearly beloved mother, Our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth II, had died at Balmoral Castle, and that His Majesty had acceded to the Throne.

Gun Salute at Hillsborough Castle

Royal gun salutes are customarily fired throughout the United Kingdom on Accession Day, including Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

The Princess Royal

Her Royal Highness THE PRINCESS ROYAL KG KT GCVO is 75 today.

The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise was born at Clarence House, London.

HRH is married to Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence KCVO CB.

Princess Anne is a Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

Her Royal Highness is also Grand Master and Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

The Princess Royal holds the ranks of Admiral in the Royal Navy, General in the Army, and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force.

The Queen's Birthday

Her Majesty The Queen LG LT GCVO GBE PC is 78 today.

Her Majesty was born at King's College Hospital, London.

In 2007, Her Majesty received The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2012, HM, as Duchess of Cornwall, was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), as illustrated on HRH's armorial bearings.

In 2016, HM was appointed a Privy Counsellor.

On New Year's Day, 2022, The Queen, as Duchess of Cornwall, was appointed a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

On the 16th June, 2023, it was announced that The King had appointed Her Majesty to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2024.

In June, 2024, Her Majesty received The Royal Family Order of King Charles III.

The Queen was appointed Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom in July, 2025.

Gloucesters in NI

The Duke of Gloucester yesterday visited Kelvatek, Camlin Group, Lisburn, County Antrim, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim (Mr David McCorkell).

His Royal Highness, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, later attended the Investiture and Awards Ceremony of the Commandery of Ards at Hillsborough Castle and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr Gawn Rowan-Hamilton).

The Duke of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, subsequently attended a Dinner at the Royal Army Medical Corps, Hydebank Army Reserve Centre, 4 Hospital Road, Belfast, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle DBE).

THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER visited Action Cancer's Big Bus at Hillsborough Castle to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of Action Cancer, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down.

Her Royal Highness later visited Mourne Stimulus, 1 Council Road, Kilkeel, and was received by Dr Robert Logan DL (Deputy Lieutenant of County Down).

The Duchess of Gloucester afterwards visited Kilkeel Harbour, Rooney, Road, Kilkeel.

Her Royal Highness subsequently visited the Schomberg Society, Reivers House, 8-12 Newcastle Street, Kilkeel, to commemorate the Twenty Fifth Anniversary.

Princess Royal in NI

On Wednesday, 13th September, 2023, The Princess Royal attended the Department for Business and Trade's Northern Ireland Business Summit at the International Conference Centre Belfast, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast, and was received by Mrs. Anne McGregor DL (Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, International Sheep Dog Society, later attended the World Sheep Dog Trials at Gill Hall Estate, Lurgan Road, Dromore, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr Gawn Rowan-Hamilton).

The Princess Royal subsequently unveiled a Royal British Legion Community Bench in Dromore Square, Dromore, and was received by Mrs. Catherine Champion DL (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Down).

Her Royal Highness attended the Department for Business and Trade's Northern Ireland Business Summit Reception at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

Prince Edward in NI

The Duke of Edinburgh is paying a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

On Thursday His Royal Highness, Colonel, 2 Rifles, visited Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, County Antrim.

During the afternoon HRH attended a DofE Gold Awards celebration at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

Today, Friday, 30th June, Prince Edward visited Garvagh and Mussenden Temple, Downhill, County Londonderry.

Prince William in Belfast

The Prince of Wales is in Belfast today, launching his new initiative to tackle homelessness in the United Kingdom.

His Royal Highness was welcomed to the city by the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE.

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.

Princess Royal in NI

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, has received Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in Ballycastle. 

HRH, Patron, Save the Children, visited the store on Ann Street to mark its tenth anniversary.

The High Sheriff of County Antrim, Mr Peter Mackie DL, was also in attendance.

Later Her Royal Highness visited Alexandra Dock, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, officially to reopen the maritime tourist attraction, HMS Caroline.

St Patrick's Day

The Princess of Wales presenting shamrock to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day, 2012. 

Her Royal Highness visited their barracks to meet officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the regiment.

This tradition was maintained for many years by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002).

The Princess of Wales is Royal Colonel of the Irish Guards.

The royal tradition dates back to 1901, when Queen Alexandra asked for shamrocks to be presented to the newly-formed regiment.

The badge of the Irish Guards comprises a star, within which is a shamrock with three crowns on its leaves (the historic kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland), the shamrock being placed on a cross of St Patrick.

The centre is surrounded by a circle which bears the legend QUIS SEPARABIT - who shall separate - and the date MDCCLXXXIII (1783), the establishment of the MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST PATRICK (KP).

Princess Anne Visit

THE PRINCESS ROYAL conferred city status on Bangor, County Down, yesterday, the 2nd December, 2022.

Bangor is now one of six cities in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Lisburn, and Newry.

Belfast was granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888.

Princess Anne in NI

The Princess Royal, Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, has arrived in Northern Ireland.

Her Royal Highness was received in Carrickfergus by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell.

HRH took the salute at a parade to mark the eightieth anniversary of the Sea Cadets in Northern Ireland at Joymount Park, Carrickfergus.

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the Pony Club, later attended the Annual Conference at the Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, and was received by Mrs Anthea Smyth DL (a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast).