ROYAL VISIT: King and Queen begin two-day trip to Northern Ireland
The tour includes a garden party at Hillsborough Castle
Last updated 24th May 2023
The King and Queen have arrived in Northern Ireland for a two-day visit.
It is the first time Charles and Camilla have visited the region following their coronation earlier this month.
They began their visit in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim where they will officially open a new Coronation Garden at Hazelbank Park on the banks of Belfast Lough.
Gathered crowds cheered as they arrived.
The King and Queen were welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Co Antrim David McCorkell, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Stephen Ross and North Belfast MP John Finucane (Sinn Fein).
They were serenaded by school children and took some time to chat with the youngsters before officially opening the gates to the Coronation Garden.
Garden designer Diarmuid Gavin accompanied Charles and Camilla, introducing them to those who have spent recent months working to realise his "whimsical" design, which includes music, moving plants and bubbles.
He said his team had been working around the clock in recent months to prepare the garden, and described his inspiration as "whimsy" to mark the coronation as well as engaging with people of all ages.
"They were wonderful - I got to spend a little bit of time with them, we went into the quiet garden with the water dancing and they were asking me where the plants came from, the idea behind the design, and they couldn't have been nicer," he said.
Charles and Camilla were told the special garden in honour of their coronation marks the beginning of a new green initiative for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
The King smiled as Bring Me Sunshine played, while Camilla described the garden as not what she had expected, but complimented it as "absolutely lovely".
Afterwards, the couple went to Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the royal residence in Northern Ireland.
Charles and Camilla are meeting with pupils from a local primary school who have taken part in a competition to design coronation benches.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris will then host a brief private audience with the King and Queen.
Following that they are attending a garden party and planting a tree within the grounds of the castle to mark the coronation.
Check out pics from today's Royal visit:
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured today at newly-created Coronation Garden in Newtownabbey, designed by Diarmuid Gavin
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Northern Ireland for of a two-day visit. Their first visit since their coronation earlier this month.
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson DUP leader today at Hillsborough Castle
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured with John Finucane MP North Belfast
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