By Ben Kerrigan-
King Charles III has arrived in Northern Ireland on his first visit as monarch. He was accompanied by Camilla, the Queen Consort, as the couple arrived at Belfast City Airport, after which they travelled to Hillsborough.
Nationalist leaders are set to play a major role in the events which were being planned amid tight security, with Alex Maskey, the Sinn Féin speaker of the Northern Ireland assembly, giving a message of condolence on behalf of the assembly in the castle’s throne room.
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Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin’s leader in Northern Ireland and first minister designate are among a small group of leaders from across the political spectrum to meet him in private.
King Charles III meets Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey, center, and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill.
King Charles III meets Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill. Image: Niall Carson/AP
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At the official royal residence, there was a gun salute when the King entered Hillsborough Castle.
Spectators were driven into the village on shuttle buses amid a massive security operation.
A total of 21 rounds, at a rate of six rounds per minute, were fired. The Royal Standard will also be flown during the visit to Hillsborough Castle.
Later today, the King and Queen Consort will meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland before a service of prayer and reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth II at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, before travelling through the city centre.
The couple have already held a private audience with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, and then meet senior representatives from political parties, receiving a message of condolence from the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey.
They then received a message of condolence on behalf of the country’s people from the speaker of Stormont Assembly Alex Maskey at a reception at the castle.
Walkabout
The King performed a walkabout and stopped to greet and talk to many people in the crowds, as he and his wife, Camilla, then stopped to view the many tributes to the Queen at the front of Hillsborough Castle.
Crowds lined the streets of Royal Hillsborough from the early hours of Tuesday ahead of the King’s first visit to Northern Ireland as monarch.
The couple are expected to be greeted by thousands of members of the public, who have been encouraged to line the streets of the city in the afternoon.
Joyce Martin, 60, a retired electricity board worker, who spoke with him, said: “I feel very sorry for him. I know [his programme] is protocol, but it’s his mother and he needs to grieve.”
She told him: “I loved your mother and said she was a great lady and gave all for her country right to the end. I said you are very welcome in Northern Ireland. He said thank you very much and gave me a very firm handshake.”
Another woman, Ingrid Graham, 36, who owns a nail business, said to him: ‘I’m sorry for your loss, your majesty,” she told the Guardian.
“Losing his mother, that’s what he meant from it.” She said he had “sad eyes”.
The king replied: ”I don’t wish this on anybody”
Their royal cavalcade will travel through Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, Chichester Street and Victoria Street.
The King and Queen Consort will then undertake a walkabout at Writers’ Square, before leaving Northern Ireland.
After remaining overnight on public view at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, the Queen’s coffin will leave the church on a hearse at 5pm, bound for Edinburgh Airport.
It will depart Edinburgh on an RAF Globemaster C-17 flight at 6 pm, accompanied by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence.
Its arrival in RAF Northolt in west London is scheduled for 6.55pm. It will then be transported on a state hearse, accompanied by Anne and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim, to Buckingham Palace.
Its route will be via the A40, Eastbourne Terrace, Lancaster Gate, Bayswater Road, Marble Arch, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill.
Waiting to receive the coffin at the Palace will be the King and the Queen Consort. The Prince and Princess of Wales will also be present.
Flowers and tributes outside Hillsborough Castle
He said: “In the years since she began her long life of public service, my mother saw Northern Ireland pass through momentous and historic changes.
“Through all those years she never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and its people, whose stories she knew, whose sorrows our family had felt and for whom she had a great affection and regard.
“My mother felt deeply. I know the significant the role she herself played in bringing together those whom history had separated, and in extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts.”
The royal couple later met with political leaders including Sinn Fein’s vice president Michelle O’Neill.
The meeting highlights the rapid evolution of Irish republican politics over the last decade.
Prime Minister To Join King And Queen Consort
Later, Prime Minister Liz Truss will join the Royal couple for a service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. The crowds began to gather before dawn in Hillsborough, hoping to get a good view of the new King.
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Once inside, the King and Queen Consort will view photographs showing the Queen in Northern Ireland.