Duchess of Cornwall gets up close with traditional crafts in Northern Ireland

During a two-day tour to Northern Ireland, the Duchess of Cornwall visited the workshop of Cara Murphy, a silversmith in Belfast. Along with the Prince of Wales, the Duchess is travelling the country to meet with members of the community honouring Northern Ireland’s history.

The Duchess took a tour of the Hillsborough workshop owned by Cara Murphy. Her work is featured in many art collections, including British and Irish galleries and museums; one of her pieces is also in Downing Street.

Earlier this year, Murphy was commissioned to create the trophy for the 2021 Grand National horse race. Following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April, there were discussions as to whether or not the annual event would go on as scheduled on 10 April. In consultation with the government, the race went on with a two-minute silence in honour of the late Duke.

After a workshop demonstration, the Duchess tried her hand at the traditional craft of silversmithing – the art of turning silver and gold sheet metal into flatware or other household articles such as a church plate. Silversmithing is also used in making certain jewellery pieces.

Murphy is the daughter of a silversmith who set up her small business 26 years ago. Continuing the family craft, Cara now owns her mother’s workshop and is studying silversmithing along with making jewellery.

The visit to Northern Ireland marked the Prince and the Duchess’s 18th visit to the country and their first since last September when they visited the Ulster Museum to meet medical staff involved with tackling the pandemic. Before the pandemic, the pair had been frequent visitors to Northern Ireland.

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