Queen Camilla delighted crowds in Royal Hillsborough on the second day of the King and Queen’s Northern Ireland visit, stepping behind the bar at the Parson’s Nose pub to pull a pint of Guinness.
The Queen brought the Co Down village to a standstill as she tried her hand at pouring the iconic Irish stout.
“I’m not quite the expert, but my husband is,” she quipped before completing the task.
Her effort earned a round of applause from onlookers, who deemed the pint perfectly poured.
The engagement at the pub and restaurant saw Camilla meet staff before being invited to demonstrate her bartending skills.
The village holds deep royal connections, serving as home to Hillsborough Castle, the official royal residence in Northern Ireland, where King Charles met Northern Ireland’s First Minister and her Deputy yesterday.
Following her pub visit, the Queen engaged with local business owners and viewed their various enterprises.
Queen Camilla stepped behind the bar at the Parson’s Nose pub to pull a pint of Guinness
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PA
The Queen was left personally delighted with her pour, while those attending applauded
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PA
She then proceeded to ER Wilson, Hillsborough’s oldest grocer, where she received a floral presentation.
A highlight of the afternoon came when pupils from a local special needs school performed for the royal visitor.
Camilla watched the choir’s rendition before spending time speaking with several of the young performers.
The Queen also made her way to Arthur’s Coffee House, greeting staff, customers and village residents inside the establishment.
During her tour, she conversed with uniformed members of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, the ceremonial unit that was restored to full strength last year for the first time in 130 years.
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Queen Camilla proceeded to ER Wilson, Hillsborough’s oldest grocer, where she received a floral presentation
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PA
Word of the Queen’s presence spread rapidly through the village, drawing hundreds of well-wishers who gathered behind barriers along the main thoroughfare.
Camilla took considerable time to shake hands and accept floral tributes from those who had assembled to catch a glimpse of her.
Among those fortunate enough to meet the Queen were Alexandra Black and her three-year-old daughter Joanna, who had journeyed from Tobermore, mre than 50 miles northwest.
“We had to leave at 7am this morning to make sure we got here on time, it was well worth it. She was absolutely lovely,” Ms Black said.
The pair presented a bouquet sourced from the same farm that supplied flowers for the coronation.
“We wanted to keep up that connection,” Ms Black explained. “It is nice they always keep coming back to see us in Northern Ireland.”
Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Amanda Grehan, had the honour of introducing Camilla to the village’s traders.
“It is absolutely fantastic to see the Queen coming to see us here in Royal Hillsborough. We are thrilled,” she said.
The mayor noted that her theme this year centres on inclusivity, adding: “Today our Queen saw everyone.”
Royal Hillsborough received its prestigious prefix through Letters Patent in October 2021, cementing its status as a village of particular significance to the Crown.