King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Northern Ireland for annual tour, taste whisky at bar in Belfast

By Hannah Furness

The King and Queen toasted their return to Belfast together when they headed straight for a whiskey shop on their arrival in the city.

The couple clinked glasses with each other at the Friend of Hand Whiskey Shop and took a large swig.

The King is visiting Northern Ireland with his wife a year after she was compelled to travel there alone as he began his cancer treatment.

Watch the video above.

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The Queen raised her eyebrows and laughed at the strength of the whiskey, while the King proclaimed it “very good”.

The couple are said to be delighted to be back in Northern Ireland, which they try to visit each year.

In 2024, the Queen made a solo visit as part of her aim to “keep the show on the road” while her husband had medical treatment at home.

This time, the King and Queen began their visit with the musicians and artists of Belfast at Commercial Court, where they spoke to locals with the background noise of a large band playing in the street.

They clapped and nodded along as an all-male band, The Causeway Shantymen, played a version of The Drunken Sailor in the street.

Greeting the 20 performers, Charles joked: “You are only here for the whiskey anyway”.

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At the Sea Holly Gallery, Professor H and Igor, who run the nearby Circusfall clown school for children and adults, put on an acrobatic balancing act which impressed the royal couple.

Speaking afterwards Professor H, real name Hillias Smith, said: “The King said, ‘Keeping on going does you good'”.

In a small walkabout, the couple shook hands with a few dozen people who had discovered they were coming and turned out to greet them, despite the strict security arrangements prohibiting the press from reporting it in advance.

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Commercial Court, a cobbled alleyway awarded the title of Belfast’s most beautiful street in 2022, features red benches and colourful umbrellas overhead.

The King and Queen were hosted by Willie Jack, who has worked in Belfast’s hospitality business for over 40 years.

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