Queen Camilla delighted onlookers in Royal Hillsborough, Co Down, by pulling a perfect pint of Guinness during a surprise visit to a local pub. The Queen joked about her husband's expertise as she poured the stout, saying, "I'm not quite the expert, but my husband is," before receiving applause for her efforts.
The visit brought the village to a standstill, with hundreds lining the streets to greet her during a walkabout. Camilla met well-wishers and local schoolchildren, and also engaged with local entrepreneurs, viewing their business creations at the Parson's Nose pub and restaurant.
She then proceeded to ER Wilson, the oldest grocer in Hillsborough, where she was presented with flowers. Later, she enjoyed a performance from the choir of a local special school before chatting to several young singers. Camilla also visited Arthur's Coffee House, meeting staff, customers, and residents.
During a second walkabout, she received flowers and acknowledged cheers from the crowd. She also took time to speak with uniformed members of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, which was restored to full strength last year for the first time in 130 years.
One well-wisher, Alexandra Black, who brought her three-year-old daughter Joanna, said: "We got to meet the Queen, she thanked us for coming out to see her. Joanna was delighted that the Queen actually made a point of coming down the road to see us." Mayor Amanda Grehan added: "It is absolutely fantastic to see the Queen coming to see us here in Royal Hillsborough. We are thrilled."
This engagement marked the second day of the King and Queen’s visit to Northern Ireland. Hillsborough is the home of the royal residence in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle, and was officially granted the “Royal” prefix in October 2021.
