On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Northern Ireland to tour the newly renovated Hillsborough Castle. Set to open to the public on 18 April, the couple got a sneak peek at what visitors can expect.
The Georgian castle went under a £24 million refurbishment after an independent charity donated to Historic Royal Palaces. The Prince’s Trust Charity has also played a role in the restoration of the palace.
Dating back to the 1770s, the site is the Queen’s official Northern Ireland residence and is also home to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Historic Royal Palaces chairman, Rupert Gavin, told guests that the official opening was a “major milestone” for the palace.
“It will be a place that the whole community can engage with and hopefully Hillsborough will be a massive resource for all parts of and all sections of Northern Ireland.”
Camilla undertook a solo engagement while at the palace. The Duchess attended the new Clore Learning Centre in the castle’s stableyard. Greeted by representatives of Historic Royal Palaces, the Duchess went on to participate in crafts with children from the nearby Downshire Primary School as well as residents from Lisburn’s Lille Court residential home. At the end of their visit, the Royal couple joined Northern Ireland artist Gareth Reid in unveiling a new portrait of Prince Charles.
The Prince said that Hillsborough Castle was a “special place” adding “as we look into the future therefore, I hope Hillsborough Castle and gardens can now well and truly be placed on the map and serve as both a destination and indeed an inspiration for all on the island of Ireland to enjoy.”
The Northern Ireland visit comes on the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary. The two married in a civil ceremony on 9 April 2005 at Windsor Guildhall.
