The King and Queen were welcomed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Co Antrim David McCorkell, mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Stephen Ross and North Belfast MP John Finucane (Sinn Fein). The King and Queen open a new Coronation Garden in Newtownabbey (Mark Marlow/PA)They were serenaded by school children and took some time to chat with the youngsters before officially opening the gates to the Coronation Garden. The King and Queen with garden designer Diarmuid Gavin (Mark Marlow/PA)Following the garden visit, the King and Queen went on to Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the royal residence in Northern Ireland. They met with pupils from a local primary school who have taken part in a competition to design coronation benches. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris hosted a brief private audience with the King and Queen, before they attended a garden party and planted a tree within the grounds of the castle to mark the coronation.

Source: The Herald May 25, 2023 01:52 UTC