King Charles III: Hillsborough gun salute marks King Charles's proclamation

Gun salute at Hillsborough Castle

A gun salute at Hillsborough Castle marked the King's proclamation

A gun salute at Hillsborough Castle has marked the Principal Proclamation of King Charles.

Members of the public have gathered in the Royal village over the weekend to pay their respects to the Queen.

King Charles will travel to Northern Ireland, with Camilla, the new Queen Consort, on Tuesday as part of a UK tour before the Queen's funeral on 19 September.

Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to accompany the King on his UK tour.

Visitors are being warned of restrictions around Hillsborough Castle during the period of official mourning.

Parking is restricted and a one-way system is now in operation in the village.

Charles became King immediately following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, but a historic meeting at St James's Palace formally confirmed his role on Saturday.

The King and Camilla will arrive in Belfast on Tuesday.

They will then travel on to Hillsborough Castle to view an exhibition on the Queen's long association with Northern Ireland.

Pacemaker

King Charles will visit Hillsborough Castle

King Charles will then meet Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, as well as other party leaders.

He is set to receive a message of condolence led by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The King and Queen Consort will then meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland before a service of prayer and reflection at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

Floral tributes gleaming in the sunshine

By Conor Neeson at Hillsborough Castle

Shots rang out at Hillsborough Castle at 11:00 BST as a 21-gun salute by members of the 105th Regiment Royal Artillery at Hillsborough Castle marked Charles III being proclaimed as king.

Crowds of people had flocked to the royal residence on free buses to pay their respects.

A lone bagpiper played the national anthem as sash-wearing members of the Orange Order stood alongside families with young children, some of whom covered their ears amid the gunfire.

Hundreds of floral tributes of every colour lined the castle's gates, gleaming in the mid-morning sunshine.

Carol McKeown and Lindsey Bell came to Hillsborough Castle with their daughters

Sisters, Carol McKeown and Lindsey Bell, who travelled from County Tyrone, said that it was like "losing a family member for all of us".

"There is no one like her, I can remember her in the 80s and to me, she has always looked the same, a grandmother figure for us all," Ms McKeown said.

Ms Bell also brought her daughters as it was "important" for them to be a part of history.

Three serving soldiers, who cycled from Portadown to Hillsborough Castle on Saturday morning, said they felt it was their "duty" to attend.

Their cycling regalia, emblazoned with poppies, was the same used by their team who cycled the French battlefields in 2019 for charity.

Influential figures from Northern Ireland - Lord Nigel Dodds, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Dame Arlene Foster, Peter Robinson and Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan - were among those attending the Accession Council at the palace in London.

Afterwards, the Principal Proclamation was read from the balcony of the palace, announcing him as King Charles III.

The Queen's funeral will be held on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey in London.

During the Accession Council, the King approved the day of the Queen's funeral becoming a bank holiday.

MPs were then offered the opportunity to pledge their allegiance to the King in the House of the Commons.

It is understood that a similar opportunity will be presented to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly when it can be recalled from its current suspension.

Speaking to BBC News NI on Saturday, Sir Jeffrey said he was confident the King will continue to take a very keen interest in Northern Ireland.

The DUP leader added: "I think he will bring a continuing stability to our nation."

Pacemaker

Many people have been paying their respects to the Queen at Hillsborough Castle

Many events this weekend have been postponed or cancelled, including Orange Order parades until after the Queen's funeral.

The order's grand secretary Rev Mervyn Gibson said it was the right thing to do.

"Simply because of the esteem in which the Queen was held - this is our monarch, this is our head of state," he said.

"This is someone who many of us loved and cherished that has passed away and it's fitting that we take these steps."

A Catholic priest in west Belfast, Fr Martin Magill, said the Queen's visit to Dublin a decade ago showed her commitment to peace.

"Those were very significant moments - the speech in Dublin Castle, beginning in Irish, the very, very carefully worded, gracious speech," he said.

"Those things made a difference, as of course did the handshake with Martin McGuinness - symbolism here is very important."

Security

While people are welcome to pay their respects at Hillsborough Castle, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has warned there are strict security rules in place.

A park-and-ride facility has been put in place from the Eikon Centre, Halftown Road, Lisburn, and there is no public access to the castle other than via this service.

Translink said that on Sunday, the public shuttle bus services will operate from 16:00 to 20:00 BST from the Eikon Centre (subject to change).

More information and guidance can be found on the Cabinet Office mourning period guidance web page.

Further information on the public transport services is available on Translink's website.

On Sunday, the High Sheriff of Belfast, John Hussey, will be joined by the Lord Lieutenant for Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle, for a re-reading of the Accession Proclamation at City Hall at 15:00 BST.

Following the re-reading of the proclamation, Belfast City Council members will hold a special meeting to pay tribute to the Queen.

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