Handshakes, sunshine and yeooos: Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall visit NI
Last updated 23rd Mar 2022
_Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have been enjoying a two day visit to Northern Ireland - and our Chief Reporter Sarah McKinley was tasked with attending two of their engagements._
Handshakes, sunshine and yeooos: By Sarah McKinley
When did you last shake somebody’s hand? No elbow-bumps, no fist-pumps, but shake their hand?
After two years of the new way of living, it felt spectacularly ordinary to witness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet crowds in Northern Ireland face to face, and dish out handshakes to the public like there’s no tomorrow.
The warmth that comes from those closer interactions was compounded by the vitamin D boost yesterday and today at the two Royal pitstops I attended.
Cookstown
In Cookstown’s town centre, some half a dozen school lined the street in awe of the spectacle of the helicopters, the bodyguards, the police escorts and the pomp and ceremony that accompanies a Royal visit.
Staff from businesses like the local Danske Bank, Corners Bakery and McConnell’s Shoes stepped outside their premises into the sun, while motor bikers and vintage tractor owners turned up to show off their prized possessions at the side of one of Ireland’s longest main streets.
The sense that I got from the people I spoke to, is that they were delighted to see that as much as they were interested in the town’s first ever Royal visit, Charles and Camilla were very interested in them.
Indeed; the couple warmly encouraged the ‘Superstars’ squad, from a café and drama group for locals with additional needs.
The special guests clapped and smiled as the talented troop performed a charismatic number from the musical Grease, before being big farewell with a box of the coffee dock’s famous homemade raspberry scones.
It turns out some of the Superstars performers are actually fans of Downtown Country, so it wasn’t hard for me to grab interviews for the radio with about a dozen of them!
Young John Donnelly wanted to know why the company sent me, a lowly reporter, rather than his idol ‘Big T’, who’s been on air for decades.
Founder May McAvoy did not insult me professionally - she said that she was absolutely overwhelmed at the recognition for the hard work they’ve been doing in the area for 18 years, and wondered if I might like a) some scones and b) a volunteer post at the club!
The visit came and went in a flash, but it’s clear that sunny day in Cookstown will be long talked about by those who were present.
Belfast
In East Belfast began the yeeeeooooos.
I’m not sure if Charles and Camilla have been yeeeeooood at before.
On a visit to C.S Lewis Square, named after the famed author of the Chronicles of Narnia, Charles was taking a moment to look at a beautiful sculpture of ‘THE wardrobe’ by Irish sculptor Maurice Herron when the crowds gathered began to get impatient.
“YEOOOOO - OVER HERE CHARLES!!”
“LET US SEE YOU!”
“DON’T FORGET ABOUT US,” they cried.
They had been waiting outside the barriers for quite some time by this stage, as the couple had moving around stalls set up in the square by literary, cultural, historic, and sporting groups.
Their tour guides around the square? The White Witch and Mr Tumnus from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe .
While the Duchess was having a cuppa inside the Holywood Arches Library with Knit and Natter social craft group, the Prince answered those persistent calls for his attention.
He joked about the price of a by-standing cyclist’s bike and he complimented the crown-shaped brooch worn by self-professed Royalist Annie King.
East Belfast native Violet Massey told me she had travelled to line the street for his wedding to Diana, and she had also set off for the Princess of Wales’ funeral, but admitted that meeting Charles in her own neighbourhood simply meant the world.
The Prince told one onlooker who enquired about the health of his mother, that Her Majesty is trucking on despite her age.
And, plenty more of those traditional handshakes that we had almost forgotten amid the pandemic were administered to the flag-bearing, sun-soaking locals.
They will continue their tour of the island with engagements in the Republic of Ireland on Thursday and Friday, but here are some of our snaps from the visit to this island so far.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall met with local businesses and members of the community.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall undertook a public walkabout meeting local school children
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit C.S Lewis Square
Their Royal Highnesses arrived at the Aslan statue and visited stalls along the Narnia-themed sculpture walk, each showcasing East Side Partnerships community activities.
Locals came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the future King.
The Duchess of Cornwall stopped by the Radio Ulster Studios
It was time for the news as The Duchess of Cornwall walks the set of BBC Newsline
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