Her Majesty has arrived in Belfast for the first visit by a British monarch to the country in almost 80 years. The visit marks King Charles’ 40th trip to Northern Ireland, but his first as monarch. Mourners view Queen’s coffin after royal vigil led by King – latest updates The King is due to meet political leaders, including Sinn Féin’s vice-president, at Northern Ireland’s royal residence at Hillsborough Castle. The King and the Queen Consort, who are on their Operation Spring Tide tour of the UK, will travel back to London later, where the monarch will receive his mother’s coffin at Buckingham Palace. Image: King Charles at the airport Image: King Charles traveled to the airport from the Palace of Holyroodhouse Hundreds of people gather in the Royal Hillsborough village ahead of the King’s arrival, with many lining the village’s high street near the castle. Spectators are bussed into the village amid a massive security operation. Once at the castle, the King and Queen Consort will have a private audience with new Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and receive a message of condolence on behalf of the people of the country from Stormont Speaker Alex Maskey. Read more: Anti-monarchy people ‘have a right to protest’, police say Where you’ll be able to see the Queen’s coffin as it travels from Edinburgh to London Which shops will be open and closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral ; They will then be joined by members of the public for a reception at the castle hosted by Mr Heaton-Harris. The royal couple will also meet Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’Neill. The meeting highlights the rapid evolution of Irish democratic politics over the past decade. In 2011, Sinn Féin was widely criticized for boycotting the Queen’s state visit to Ireland. It was the first state visit by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence from Britain a century ago. Image: Hundreds of people have gathered outside Hillsborough Castle Once they are done with their engagements at the castle, King Charles and Camilla will travel to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for a reflection service on the Queen’s life. Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney are to attend the memorial service at St Anne’s Cathedral. The royal couple will also meet leaders from all the major religions in Northern Ireland. Image: Flowers and tributes have been placed outside Hillsborough Castle following the Queen’s death Members of the public have been invited to line the streets between the castle and the cathedral as King Charles and Camilla will travel along Main Street and Lisburn Street in Hillsborough, before heading into Belfast along Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, Chichester Street and Victoria Street. . The King and Queen Consort will also visit Writers’ Square in Belfast, which will be closed to the public. Meanwhile, the Queen’s coffin will make the painful journey to Buckingham Palace from St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Members of the public are already queuing for the Queen to lie in state at Westminster Hall in London, which opens on Wednesday, and thousands are still laying flowers and tributes in Green Park.
