King Charles and Queen Camilla visit a library and cathedral in Armagh
King Charles and Queen Camilla visit a library and cathedral in Armagh as they kick off the second day of their visit to Northern Ireland
- The King visited St Patrick’s Cathedral and met reps from many churches
- The Queen, 75, visited the Armagh Robinson Library, home to historical archives
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The King and Queen have arrived in Co Armagh on their second day of engagements in Northern Ireland.
The King, 74, visited St Patrick’s Cathedral where met representatives from the Church of Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Irish Council of Churches.
The Queen, 75, visited the Armagh Robinson Library, which is home to a number of local archaeological items, historical archives and fine art, as well as books.
Charles was met outside St Patrick’s Cathedral in Co Armagh by the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev Shane Forster.
Charles then entered the cathedral, where he was greeted by choir song before exchanging brief words with various religious leaders.
King Charles and Queen Camilla walk alongside Very Rev Shane Forster at Market Theatre Square
He took a seat before the altar with Rev Forster to one side and Lord Lieutenant of Co Armagh, the Earl of Caledon seated on the other.
Among the church leaders who gave readings at the service were the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland Rev John McDowell and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland Rev Eamon Martin.
It is the first time that the King and Queen are visiting Northern Ireland since Charles’ crowning on May 6.
The Queen hailed the power of volunteering as she visited the 252-year-old library and admitted to suffering ‘creaks and groans’ when gardening.
She was greeted by a table of library volunteers, a group children from Drelin Court School whose English is a second language and members of Dementia NI.
She told the volunteers: ‘This is very special what you are doing.
She added: ‘The whole country would collapse without volunteers. That goodness there is a lot of you about.
‘Volunteers also get as much out as they give.’
King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Nowawakowska aged eight and Charles Murray also aged eight from Armstrong primary school outside St Patrick’s Cathedral
Charles and Camilla make their way around the market, eyeing up all sorts of sweet treats
King Charles meets and greets people at St Patrick’s Cathedral as part of his two-day visit to Northern Ireland
It is the first time that the King and Queen are visiting Northern Ireland since Charles’ crowning on May 6
He took a seat before the altar with Rev Forster to one side and Lord Lieutenant of Co Armagh, the Earl of Caledon seated on the other
The Queen also leafed through a reproduction of the Lindisfarne Gospels with brightly coloured illustrations used to thrill child visitors to the library.
And marvelled Jonathan Swift’s personal copy of Gulliver’s Travels – with his personal annotations – kept safe in a glass cabinet.
The Queen was also given the chance to read parts of Joseph Baxter’s Magazine of Botany, which is a collection of illustrated advice for gardeners.
Speaking to members of Dementia NI, she said: ‘I love gardening. I’m a passionate gardener. And it’s very therapeutic. But I always stay too long. Everything creaks and groans.’
Speaking to children, some who only arrived in Northern Ireland two weeks ago, she said: ‘You speak very good English.’
Angela Baleva, 6, who was born in Portugal, whose first language is Bulgarian and handed the Queen a picture she had coloured in from the Lindisfarne Gospels.
She said afterwards: ‘I told the Queen I thought she was beautiful and she said thank you.’
King Charles is pictured walking with Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Shane Forster (right), during his visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh
Queen Camilla is pictured on Market Theatre Square to greet individuals during their trip to Northern Ireland
Queen Camilla speaks to school children as they draw in the 252-year-old Irish library
Camilla wore emerald green sleeved dress which came down to just below her knees.
The dress featured beading detailing around the neckline and then also at the cuffs.
The royal paired her dress with tan coloured heels and wore a brooch on her shoulder.
She wore her blue Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet which featured their classic clover charms.
King Charles wore a grey suit with a white shirt and a black, gold and red striped tie and polished shoes.
Queen Camilla during a visit to Robinson Library, Armagh to continue her work to foster a love of reading across all ages
King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Nowawakowska and Charles Murray who are wearing colourful crowns
Queen Camilla samples local produce a Celebration of Culture at Market Theatre Square
King Charles also tries the local produce at at Market Theatre Square as he is pictured drinking a sample of a beverage
King Charles and Queen Camilla are in Northern Ireland for two days and yesterday visited a garden party
Yesterday, the royal couple attended a garden party at Hillsborough Castle and opened a new Coronation Garden, erected to mark King Charles’ ascension to the throne.
Camilla looked typically elegant in an all-white ensemble, while her husband, Charles appeared dapper in a navy suit and light blue tie for the occasion at the monarch’s official residence in Northern Ireland.
During the party, the couple planted a tree within the grounds of the castle to mark the coronation, following the King’s brief audience with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.
According to the British Royal Family’s official website, Charles grabs a hold of a branch, gives it a ‘friendly shake’, and wishes it well after planting a tree during official engagements.
Camilla is pictured meeting people dressed as legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh
Queen Camilla beams as she watches children colour in pages at the library
The royal pair share a word or two during the Celebration of Culture at Market Theatre Square
King Charles beams as he shakes hands with the characters
Charles and Camilla wave at fans and greet people as they step out of their car
Camilla smiles as she meets characters which are associated with the town of Armagh
Camilla is gifted flowers as she walks around to greet adoring fans who hope to catch a glimpse of the royals
Charles shakes hands with members of the public as he makes his way around the crowd
Charles looked happy to be stroking a lady’s dog who had his paws over the barriers
It seems not only humans came to see the King, but also our four-legged friends
The King and Queen also met members of the Methodist College Belfast choir, who sang at the coronation in Westminster Abbey.
Charles and Camilla also arrived at Market Theatre Square in Armagh to see a celebration of culture.
Ulster-Scots, Irish, Chinese and South Asian cultures featured their traditional music, song and dance.
Charles and Camilla met characters representing legendary and historical characters associated with Armagh, sampled local delicacies and met artisanal food producers, as well as speaking to the crowds gathered.
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