King and Queen receive lively welcome as they visit Belfast,
The King and Queen danced, played the drums and even sampled a few shots of whiskey each on a lively welcome to Northern Ireland for the start of a three-day visit.
The trip, which like all engagements in the region is carried out amid a strict security blackout, saw Their Majesties greeted with music, singing, dancing – and a taoscán of Titanic – in the capital, Belfast.
They joined organisers and performers to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the world’s largest festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance – which is coming to the city this August for the first time.
Hosting the Fleadh represents a significant and historic moment for the city, organisers say, bringing thousands of musicians, dancers and visitors, and shining a spotlight on the rich cultural heritage of Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Their Majesties were greeted by more than two hundred performers as they arrived at Thompson Dock, where Titanic was last on dry land in 1911 before its fateful maiden voyage.
There were serenaded with an instrumental version of ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma’, before local schoolchildren playing a variety of instruments including whistles and a harp began performing for them as the couple walked down the line, thanking them profusely.
There were also groups of dancers from different cultures, representing Belfast’s rich ethnic diversity including Mexican, Polish and a group from the MSCNI – Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland – which brings together people from diverse backgrounds to promote community cohesion.
As a drummer played, Charles, 77, couldn’t resist tapping his feet and getting involved, moving rhythmically to the sounds of the musician.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Thompson Dock in Belfast this afternoon
The King and Queen meet fans at an event to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann coming to Belfast
The King meets the Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly (right) as he arrives in the city today
King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet performers as they attend an event in Belfast
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit Thompson Dock as their visit to Belfast begins today
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend an event in the rain at Thompson Dock in Belfast today
The King watches performers as he attend an event to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
He was hugged warmly around the waist by Tendai Nyamayaro, 38, originally from Zimbabwe who has been living in Belfast for two and a half years, with the laughing monarch slapping his back and returning the gesture.
Mr Nyamayaro said afterwards: ‘The King’s got rhythm! He did have some rhythm! What a beautiful thing to have happened. Showing up to celebrate our different cultures here in Belfast.
‘It’s a wonderful place, the people are lovely, so friendly and welcoming. There’s a real energy here.
‘It was so beautiful.’
Nigerian-born Jahswill Emmanuel BEM, who started the 350-strong group, said when he first came to Belfast 25 years ago ‘there was no-one who looked like me’.
‘I was literally one of the only black guys here,’ he said.
‘I started the group to bring together those from all different ethnic minorities, show off our community and empower young people.
‘We had no idea the King and Queen were coming. The Lord Lieutenant invited us for a cup of tea amid great secrecy. To be honest I thought it was going to be Starmer. And then the king and queen arrived. I am very happy! I am really happy it was them. They have come here to see us too.
‘For us to see the king has been amazing, a really amazing feeling. He brought the sun with him too.
Queen Camilla samples Titanic whiskey at Titanic Distillers during the royal visit to Belfast on Tuesday – she is wearing a shamrock-shaped brooch previously owned by Queen Elizabeth II
Director Peter Lavery (left) and Head Distiller Damien Rafferty (right) with King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they taste some whiskey during a visit to Titanic Distillers
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive today as their trip to Northern Ireland begins
King Charles III and Queen Camilla play traditional Irish bodhran drums as they watch dancers at an event to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann coming to Belfast in August
‘They were a wonderful couple.’
Afterwards Charles and Camilla were invited to listen to and watch some traditional Irish music and dancing.
Seated at the side of the stage, they couldn’t resist each taking up a Bodhran, a traditional type of drum, and trying their hand – although the King seemed a little more at home with the instrument than his wife, needing no encouragement to have a go.
A fiddler showed them both how to rhythmically stroke rather than beat the drum, the King getting the hang of the movement quickly, as he looked up in awe at the impressive young dancers.
Afterwards he moved on stage to thank them. ‘You must be so out of breath, fantastic!’ he beamed.
‘Are you all professionals?’
He looked shocked when told they were amateurs.
‘Impressive. Thank you all so much. You must wear out your shoes very quickly. Thank you again.’
Their Majesties also visited Titanic Distillers, a distinctive distillery housed within the restored Edwardian pumphouse that once served the adjoining dry dock, famed for holding the RMS Titanic.
The company was founded two and a half years ago after a two million pound investment in the building and is currently working towards distilling its first single malt.
After meeting distillery staff the couple were taken on a tour of their stunning copper stills before trying their hand at trying two different types of whiskey.
The Queen raised her eyebrows dramatically – it was barely after 12pm after all – but gamely tried a sip of the hard stuff.
‘I’ve got to get to my next engagement,’ she joked, of her forthcoming visit to a local primary school.
‘So what proof is it?’
She was told it was 40 per cent.
‘Ok right, well I’m going to try it,’ said.
Taking a sip, she knocked the brew back, rolling her eyes in mock surprise.
‘Delicious. But quite strong! It’s nice and warming,’ she said.
‘It’s very strong,’ she warned her husband, who leaned over to pick up a glass.
The King rather likes his whiskey, by all accounts, and took it in his stride, smelling it before sipping.
‘Can you smell it?’ He asked his wife, as she leant over and clinked glasses with him. Not realising what she was doing at first, he also then got the giggles.
She looked like she was struggling slightly but the king nodded his head approvingly.
‘Very good,’ he said approvingly.
Queen Camilla speaks with a dancer at an event at Thompson Dock in Belfast on Tuesday
Irish dancers perform for the King and Queen during their visit to northern Ireland
King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet wellwishers at Thompson Dock in Belfast
Queen Camilla plays a traditional Irish bodhran drum during the visit
The couple were given a bottle of five-year-old Pot Still to take home with them, as well as glasses, a commemorative coin marking the first distilling after prohibition was lifted and some flowers by Coco Syminton, 15, and her siblings Evie, nine, and Alfie, seven.
Damien Rafferty, head distiller, said afterwards: ‘The one the Queen thought was quite stronger is actually the lesser of the two. She must have a more refined palate than me!’
Later the King was offered a lesson in hip hop dance and accepted a beaded bag charm for his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, as he toured a science and discovery centre in Belfast.
The King visited Odyssey Place in Belfast on Tuesday afternoon, home to W5 LIFE (Learning Innovation for Everyone).
The organisation works in partnership with The King’s Trust, Microsoft and Almac to deliver programmes designed to build STEM capability and create new career opportunities.
The King met several young business owners supported by trust, expressing great interest in their businesses, which ranged from ceramics, to beaded jewellery and teddy bears.
He was greeted on arrival by Martin McDowell, chair of the Odyssey Trust, Paul McMahon, CEO of the Odyssey Trust, and Mark Dougan, director of the King’s Trust Northern Ireland.
Inside, Jamie Fagan, a King’s Trust ambassador who founded a dance business called Urban Motion was performing alongside a handful of young dancers.
Mr Fagan is aiming to reach and inspire a million young people through dance.
The King appeared fascinated by the performance. Mr Fagan told him that rather than learning a set of routines they learn specific moves and then just express themselves.
He asked the teenagers if they practised at home, noting that it was ‘good exercise’. ‘You make it up as you go along?’ he asked.
Mr Fagan said he had so far reached more than 500,000 young people. ‘You’re getting towards a million,’ the King told him. ‘Very enterprising.’
The dance teacher then told the monarch: ‘If you ever need a lesson…’ The King replied with a chuckle: ‘If I ever do, I’ll know who to call.’
He went on to meet Fiona Shannon, who runs her own ceramics business and often works with the King’s Trust, telling her: ‘I’m very proud of you.’
He told her that he tried pottery once when he was at school, as they had a kick wheel.
Next in line was Shannon Dharmaratne, who will soon launch her business, teddycare (CORR), selling inclusive teddy bears that have disabilities and wear cochlear implants, glasses or a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line.
The King appeared fascinated by the bears, feeling the fabric and asking about the material and whether they were made in the UK.
‘I told him that teddycare wants to empower different children and really make them feel confident and brave about who they are and what makes them them,’ Ms Dharmaratne said afterwards.
‘He was like, ‘Oh yeah, I love that, I think that’s brilliant. He said I was a brave girl.
‘He asked if I could get my teddies manufactured in the UK instead of in China and he asked if they were plastic.
‘I said, no, we didn’t want any plastic and that we’ve been working with the NHS to ensure that our materials are compliant with their regulations, and he liked that.’
The King also met Rachel Rose, who set up jewellery business Empower Flower last July.
‘I wanted to give back after experiencing some dark times myself,’ she said. ‘I’m trying to encourage people to come off their phones and use their hands to create some magic.’
Workshop participants are encouraged to write down affirmations about themselves.
Ms Rose gave the King a beaded bag charm to take home for Princess Charlotte, 11, ‘Thank you, she will love that,’ he said.
The King then chatted to students from Strabane Academy in Co Derry, which is taking part in an inter school Enterprise Challenge. They used Lego models to demonstrate various robotics and coding skills.
The monarch was given a huge cheer after pressing a button on one contraption to make it move. He was told the initiative helped build confidence and create new career paths.
The couple left separately to separate engagements to a tumultuous welcome.
They will undertake a string of engagements over the next few days, which cannot be revealed in advance.
