Queen Camilla beamed as she poured a Guinness on the second day of her three-day visit to Northern Ireland with King Charles. Her Majesty arrived in Hillsborough, the royal residence of Northern Ireland, this morning, where she met with staff members of the city council and local business owners.
Clutching a bouquet of purple flowers, Camilla, 78, was seen leaving the village's oldest shop, grocer ER Wilson, before sharing heartfelt moments with the crowd, including a sweet dog. Taking time to greet hundreds of well-wishers lining the streets, Camilla was all smiles after a previous day of dancing and whiskey shots.
The Queen helped pull a pint of Guinness during a visit to the Parson's Nose restaurant in the charming village, which was granted Royal status in 2021. Dressed in a stylish all-black ensemble featuring the Clever Crepe Finchley Coat from The Fold, retailing at £495, Camilla wore a shamrock-shaped brooch previously owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II for the second consecutive day.
To accessorise, she opted for Fabergé Imperial Impératrice Tassel Earrings, previously worn on a visit to Middlesbrough in February last year. She chose sturdy black heels for support during her engagements.
Day One Festivities in Belfast
Charles and Camilla's trip, conducted under strict security, saw them greeted with music, singing, dancing, and a taste of Titanic whiskey in Belfast. They joined organisers to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world's largest festival of traditional Irish music, song, and dance, coming to the city for the first time in August.
The couple were greeted by over 200 performers at Thompson Dock, where Titanic was last on dry land in 1911. They were serenaded with an instrumental version of 'I'll Tell Me Ma', while local schoolchildren played whistles and harps. Dancers from various cultures, including Mexican, Polish, and Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland, represented Belfast's diversity.
As a drummer played, King Charles, 77, tapped his feet and joined in, hugging Tendai Nyamayaro, 38, originally from Zimbabwe. The couple then listened to traditional Irish music and dancing, each trying a Bodhran drum. The King quickly got the hang of the rhythmic strokes.
Whiskey Tasting and Distillery Visit
Their Majesties visited Titanic Distillers, housed in a restored Edwardian pumphouse. After meeting staff, they toured copper stills and tasted two types of whiskey. The Queen raised her eyebrows at the early hour but gamely tried a sip, joking about her next engagement. They received a bottle of five-year-old Pot Still, glasses, a commemorative coin, and flowers from local children.
Later, the King was offered a hip hop dance lesson and accepted a beaded bag charm for his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, during a visit to W5 LIFE at Odyssey Place. The organisation partners with The King’s Trust, Microsoft, and Almac to build STEM capability. The King chatted with students from Strabane Academy demonstrating robotics and coding skills with Lego models, pressing a button to make a contraption move.
