BRITAIN’S PRINCE CHARLES arrived in Belfast today for his latest visit.
Accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, he will also cross the border to visit the Donegal area later this week.
The heir to the throne’s latest Irish trip is aimed at recognising “the warm friendship that exists between both countries,” according to an official press release. The visit will also “promote understanding” of the respective heritages of the UK and Ireland, the statement adds.
It comes just over a year after Charles shared a historic handshake with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, in Co Galway. The meeting was regarded as being historically significant as Earl Mountbatten, a great-uncle of Prince Charles, was killed in an IRA bomb in County Sligo in 1979.
This year’s trip
As part of this week’s events, Prince Charles is set to host a musical evening at Hillsborough Castle, and will visit a number of local food and drink businesses in Northern Ireland.
He began his visit at Queen’s University’s Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology today.
Wednesday’s events in Donegal will include a visit to Magee’s in Donegal town, which has been producing tweed in the area for around 150 years.
On the same day, the prince will meet local entrepreneurs at Letterkenny Institute of Technology while Camilla drops in to a local school.
They’ll drop by Glenveagh Castle near Gweedore for their last official event. According to the official statement:
Their Royal Highnesses will tour the gardens and meet children who have been learning about some of the conservation work which takes place in the National Park.
The prince has visited Ireland three times before, making his first trip to the Republic in 1995.
Queen Elizabeth II’s State visit in 2011, accompanied by Prince Philip, was described at the time by President Mary McAleese as an “extraordinary moment in Irish history” and “a phenomenal sign and signal of the success of the peace process”.
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