KING CHARLES VISITS ST ANNE’S CATHEDRAL

one woman at Hillsborough put it to me the day before, “Och it’s sad”. Yet the accession and a new name above the door seemed good too, like the weather on Tuesday, September 13. The new head of the Firm said he’d dreaded that day yet here he was, five days on, energised. It was a bright autumnal day and standing in Writers’ Square, the media pack, local and international, and people from charities and community groups close to Charles and his mother, were there. Plus a good sprinkling of schoolkids from both sides of the divide.

The mood was celebratory. En route to my stand, I passed two sisters with one of their baby daughters, not yet a year. So why had they, alongside hundreds to thousands, come to stand in the warmth and wait for the appearance of the Royal car, a German vehicle with the flag on. “We wanted to pay our respects to the Queen and greet King Charles,” said Amie Black. Her sister agreed and the baby nodded and sucked her lolly.

History was also being made. King Charles’ mother first visited the Province a month after her wedding, in 1953, on a trip with Prince Philip to Derry-Londonderry, although she’d been coming over as Princess Elizabeth since the end of the war, chalking up over 20 visits. In 1946, Princess Elizabeth with her parents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth, came to Ulster on a ‘Victory’ tour, hosting a garden party for war workers in Botanic Gardens; she and Princess Margaret were often hosted by their aunt, Lady Rose Bowes-Lyon, at Hillsborough.

It’s safe to say, and Belfast’s Lieutenant confirms this, that the Royal Family has a soft spot for Northern Ireland. When his automobile with pennant (that tells you it’s his car) arrived and the new King and Camilla, Queen Consort, got out, he seemed

King Charles III’s first visit as Monarch to Northern Ireland was a mixture of the ceremonial and the chummy, the public and personal. The man who as heir to the throne had often made the hour-long flights from London to Belfast, but this was a new dispensation.

It was, of course, a bittersweet experience too. Prince Charles had known his whole life that he would only start the job he was trained for when his “beloved mama”, Queen Elizabeth II, died. As

EDITED BY JANE HARDY

pleased to be here. Of course, the new King’s itinerary suggested the importance of it all. We in a sense vowed allegiance to King and he in turn vowed his allegiance to us.

King Charles’ whistlestop tour of the UK’s four nations was of course also a Union-building exercise. On the unstatistical evidence of a sunny September afternoon in Belfast city centre, it seemed to be going well. You sense the 73 year old is empowered. He waved on the way in to the 30-minute service of reflection on his mother’s life, accepting the crowd’s roars of approval and choruses of ‘God save our gracious King’ with a smile.

The service itself included a brisk sermon from the Bishop of Connor and superb music (Irish composers such as Stamford, a version of Danny Boy) delivered by the newly assembled choir comprising the Priory Singers, members of Inst school choir and the Northern Ireland Opera chorus. When he exited the 19th century building, with guard of honour, the King headed straight for the invited crowd in Writer’s Square. It was a little like Bono in the mosh pit for he was equally sure of his welcome. You can imagine after years when the crowd wanted Diana, more years when maybe the Queen was the most prized member of the Firm, it must be gratifying they now want him.

And we do. People in the crowds at the top of Royal Avenue shouted ‘God save the King.’ When Queen Victoria - like Queen Elizabeth II, a long-lived monarch - died in 1901, Irish writer and critic George Bernard Shaw wrote a typically curmudgeonly letter to The Times. “Sir,” it began “I am loth to interrupt the rapture of mourning…” then went on to do just that by wondering whether the populace could maintain the royalist fervour for a fortnight’s remembrance. They did, although there was dissent too at the time. We have also definitely picked up a patriotic mood, maybe partly because of the chaotic political situation across the UK which makes the efficiency, style, fortitude and hard work of the Royal family seem even more desirable by contrast.

I found out what the new King’s subjects were making of it all. We had had a very good view of Charles and Camilla, his now Queen Consort, on the way in. Plus the Belfast Lieutenant, close to the first family, Dame Fionnuala O’Boyle, who waved, blew a brief kiss to someone, and exuded positivity. There were also politicians of various hues, including Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP), Michelle O’Neill (SF) who had been photographed as the first to sign the official Book of Condolences for Queen Elizabeth II in Belfast’s City Hall. Former First Minister, Arlene Foster, worked the crowd later. Among the 800 invited guests, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was there; also the Irish Taoiseach. It’s rumoured that as Prince Charles, the man now King has worked on both sides of the border to boost continued peaceful relations, rather as his mother dramatically did on her visits North and South in 2012.

A couple of teenagers in school uniform seemed overwhelmed, rather as if they’d just seen a favourite musician, and after all, Royalty is now a major branch of the celebrity category. “It was just amazing, so different from seeing the Royals on television,” said 17-year-old Ed Nazreth, a sub-textual Wow written all over his face. His schoolmate, also 17, Kathleen Sturgess, echoed his excitement. “It’s great to be here and see them, unreal.”

A group from the Ravenscroft Community Association, celebrating its thirtieth birthday in August, were enjoying the sun and atmosphere. Rachel Davison (60), Merrily Lee (57), Trevor Lee (59), Janice Hill (59), Leah Hagan (22) and Andrew Steel (34) all work for the acclaimed charity, delivering vital services to the local community. Rachel described herself as one of the “golden oldies” and said: “He’s got big shoes to fill but I think Charles is an amazing person. It’s the first time to see him as King, and it’s impressive. He is very knowledgeable about what goes on here.”

Among the assembled media, there was a sense this was a genuinely important visit, and a feeling, shared by many, that the Royal Family is somehow close to us. Robin Elliott of NVTV said: “I am excited to be here. It’s a sad day as well as we thought of the Queen as a member of our family. I think the new King will bring a breath of fresh air.” Elliott added that such had been the enthusiasm for this visit, his friend, celebrity milliner Grainne Maher, had run out of black hats.

A member of the new generation, who will witness the whole of the Carolean era, Adam Mercer (17) from Inst, said he felt everything should evolve and be modernised, including the Monarchy, adding the new King would have a big in-tray “but he’ll do what he can”.

One has an impression that the King has a more nuanced understanding of Northern Ireland than many a Secretary of State. King Charles visited Stormont, where the Assembly hastily reassembled for one day to offer their condolences (which were duly accepted). I asked Andy Kelly, my taxi driver en route to St Anne’s, whether he thought Charles would be a good King, and could he help sort out the stasis here. “Yes, he’ll be good, but you know he’s not a miracle worker.”

Dame Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle, whom I spoke to about the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, had a nice tribute for the man with the top job. “He’s a world class social entrepreneur (and has achieved amazing things via the Prince’s Trust) with the soul of a poet.”

That seemed fitting as we were standing on paving stones inscribed with verses by John Hewitt and Louis McNeice among others. Although the service had been about the Queen, it was also about the new King. You sensed a page of history being turned, for all of us. It was no accident they chose the beginning of Psalm 96 for the service, which begins “O sing unto the Lord a new song…” This new reign could be important, even fun.