Queen Elizabeth II: 'Mourning but celebrating' during King Charles's NI visit
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King Charles waved to members of the public outside St Anne's Cathedral
"We're mourning but also celebrating" was how one fan of the Royal Family described the mood in Royal Hillsborough.
The village hosted the new King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
The royal couple then travelled to Belfast where thousands of people lined the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of them.
Hillsborough was given the prefix "Royal" in 2021 to recognise its long connection with the Royal Family.
People began lining its streets at 05:00 BST, hoping to see the royal couple on their way to and from Hillsborough Castle, the official royal residence in Northern Ireland.
Some people sensibly brought camp chairs, picnics and thermal flasks of hot drinks, anticipating a long wait before seeing the King.
Mother and daughter, Valerie and Hayley Stokes, have attended a number of royal events
"It's difficult, he's been in training for this all his life," said Valerie Stokes, who was in Royal Hillsborough since early morning with her daughter, Hayley.
"He has been handling it with grace," added Hayley.
Royal events are nothing new to Valerie and Hayley, from Ballynahinch, County Down.
They have attended several royal weddings - Charles and Diana; Charles and Camilla; William and Kate - and can now add the King's maiden Northern Ireland visit to their list.
"It was very important to us," said Hayley, but Valerie added that the reason for the occasion was "bittersweet".
Queen Elizabeth II, pictured at the Giant's Causeway in 2016, visited Northern Ireland many times during her reign
While it was the 19th time the royal couple had visited Northern Ireland together, it was the first since Charles became King following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday.
Unusually, the monarch's visit was announced in advance: Details are often kept under wraps, due to security concerns.
But crowds were accommodated outside Hillsborough Castle and in front of Belfast City Hall, where the King's cavalcade passed on Tuesday afternoon. The visit caused some congestion and traffic delays.
In Northern Ireland, people's attitudes to the monarchy tend to be linked to their national identity.
For unionists - who want Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom - the sovereign is the personhood of Britishness, embodying the authority of the crown as a unifying force across the UK's four nations.
Nationalists - who want Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland - generally do not recognise the sovereignty of the crown here.
Unionists feel the loss of the late Queen most profoundly - and welcomed the new King most enthusiastically.
Nationalist sentiment is reflected in the main parties' words during the last few days - focusing on paying tribute to the late Queen's role in the peace process, and remaining detached from ceremonies to mark the King's accession.
While Northern Ireland is known for its divisions, there was little anti-royal sentiment among the crowds, both outside Hillsborough Castle and Belfast City Hall.
Union flags were being waved proudly by many royal supporters.
Rita Martin, Gertie Lorimour and Jean Sands travelled from Mountvale Nursing Home with their carers
For Rita Martin and her friends, the royal visit was a chance to be a part of history, though the death of the Queen was a sad backdrop to the King's first visit to Northern Ireland as monarch.
"We wouldn't have missed it," said Rita, who travelled with Gertie Lorimour, Jean Sands and their carers from Mountvale Nursing Home in Dromore, County Down, to see the King.
They were in place, front and centre at the entrance of Hillsborough Castle, from 07:10.
'It just means everything to me'
While Barbara Green, from Hillsborough, didn't have far to travel, that didn't stop her from getting up early: She was in position at 05:00.
She brought with her a picture of when King Charles - who was Prince of Wales at the time - awarded her an MBE for services to special education five years ago.
Barbara Green met King Charles, who was then a prince, in 2017
"It just means everything to me to be here today," said the former school principal.
"The people of Northern Ireland feel for him, and wish him and the Queen Consort well.
"We want to give strength to carry on - he needs our support."
Gail Hutchinson and Sally McCambley (right) are regular visitors to Hillsborough Castle
For 84-year-old Sally, the Queen had been a constant in her life and she fondly remembered the Queen's many visits to Northern Ireland and how, in the early days, she would come in an open-top car.
"She was greatly loved," she said.
"She never put a foot wrong, but Charles will be a tremendous King. He has seen her do it up close."
In the end, it was a swift departure for the King and Camilla, after their engagements in Hillsborough Castle, with the cavalcade travelling to Belfast for a strict schedule of events - but those who stayed gave a big cheer and the occasional chant of God Save the King.
Hundreds gathered at Belfast City Hall with smartphones in hand, eager to catch a glimpse of King Charles III
'An honourable man'
At Belfast City Hall, Eleanor Neill, who is originally from Glasgow but now lives in Belfast's Sandy Row, dressed up for the occasion.
Eleanor Neill first saw the King in Scotland
Ms Neill described the new King as "an honourable man".
She first met him in Scotland about 30 years ago and said: "He loves this, coming out and seeing the people."
Four nurses, originally from the Philippines, were in Belfast to show their support for the Royal Family.
"We've been here for five years - we feel like we share in your culture, she was our Queen," said Justine Gudes.
"It's very sad, especially for anyone from the United Kingdom.
"She was a global icon."
Marilyn Reyes, Raynel Amora, Justine Gudes and Nicole Felix set up near Belfast City Hall
Healthcare workers Jacqueline Harrison and Jacqueline Kell were in a celebratory mood, having rushed straight from their jobs eager to welcome the new King.
Ms Harrison said: "It's sad for him, we'll never see the likes of this again, but it's celebratory as well - I'll be having a few drinks tonight!"
Healthcare workers, Jacqueline Kell (left) and Jacqueline Harrison (right) were joined by Aaliyah Wasson (centre) as they welcomed the King
Emma Ellingham had travelled from Cookstown in County Tyrone and said that attending was a display of her Britishness.
"I feel very sorry for [the King], people forget they're only human. We all deal with it, their grief is very public and they deal with it really well," she said.
"Today's crowds... It's a lovely touch to see the level of respect he deserves."
For those hoping for a brief handshake, some were left slightly disappointed as the royal couple briskly drove past to meet time constraints.
With a deafening roar of applause, a few cheers and the sound of Amazing Grace being piped across Donegall Square West, the fleeting display lasted mere seconds.
"Although it's lovely, all the same," smiled one onlooker.
Onlookers watched along as the Royals attended a service at St Anne's Cathedral
The lawn in front of City Hall was busy with people viewing the big screen
Hazelwood Integrated College pupils Jo and James, both 15, are history students
The King and Queen Consort arrived to St Anne's Cathedral to tumultuous applause and cheers and shouts of "God save the King".
As more and more dignitaries, including Irish President Michael D Higgins, Prime Minister Liz Truss and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), arrived at Writers' Square the anticipation in the crowd grew with loud chatter and a helicopter circling overhead.
North Belfast history students Jo, from Cliftonville, and James, from Rathcoole, wanted to see history being made.
"I was a wee bit heartbroken when the Queen died - I'm not going to lie," said James.
"I had never really thought about the Queen as a force in my life until she died and then it felt like something was missing," added Jo, who said it meant things were changing.
Members of the Army benevolent fund visited Writers' Square on Tuesday
Gail Adamson, Brian Hyndman and Brian Adamson, all from the Army benevolent fund, were among those in Writers' Square.
Gail said it seemed very surreal to say that the UK now has a King.
"It's a real privilege to be here today to meet him," she added.
Lucy McConville from Bloomfield Collegiate was delighted to have shaken hands with King Charles III
For some of the crowd at Writers' Square, a long wait paid off with a short audience with the King.
Some of the children who met him had the day off school and had and managed to get a handshake with him.
Lucy McConville, from Bloomfield Collegiate in east Belfast, said: "I got to shake his hand - I was trying to budge my way up the big crowd and I just stuck my hand out and shook his hand - now I can say I've met a royal!"
With additional reporting by Amy Stewart and Matt Fox in Belfast
- Published9 September 2022
- Published13 September 2022
- Published13 September 2022
