Britain’s King Charles III has pledged to “seek the welfare” of all Northern Ireland’s people and described how his family have felt their “sorrows” as his mother’s role in peacebuilding efforts was praised.
The king, who in 2015 made a pilgrimage to the site of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten’s murder in an IRA bombing, said the queen had “never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and its people”.
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, the new monarch said the late queen was aware of her position in bringing together divided communities “whom history had separated”.
The king, responding to a message of condolence on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland from Stormont Assembly speaker Alex Maskey, said: “Through all those years, she never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and for its people, whose stories she knew, whose sorrows our family had felt, and for whom she had a great affection and regard.
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“My mother felt deeply, I know, the significance of the role she herself played in bringing together those whom history had separated, and in extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts.”
With the queen consort and significant figures from Northern Ireland watching, the king said about the late queen: “Now, with that shining example before me, and with God’s help, I take up my new duties resolved to seek the welfare of all the inhabitants of Northern Ireland.”
Charles and Camilla were greeted by cheers as they arrived at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for a memorial service in memory of the queen. Dozens of students in their school uniforms were among those who waited in the hot sun to catch a glimpse of the royals.
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The head of the Church of Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell, told the service that the queen was part of the reconciliation of Ireland. He told the king and queen consort that “faithfulness, care, dutifulness, love and devotion” were all part of her long reign.
“All of these could be employed to describe her relationship with Northern Ireland, with patience binding them all together, but paying attention especially to what she said most recently, the word which I think will be most associated with Queen Elizabeth and Ireland, north and south, is reconciliation,” he said.
Archbishop McDowell added that the queen “followed where Jesus led as women often have in the elusive and unfinished work of reconciliation here in Ireland”.
As the service ended, Charles and Camilla were seen exchanging handshakes and warm words with President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina.
British prime minister Liz Truss, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney were among the congregation of more than 800 people, which included leaders from all the main faiths in Northern Ireland, who met the royals in advance of the service.
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Earlier, the couple were greeted by flag-waving and cheering supporters on their arrival at Hillsborough Castle. A corgi in the crowd snuggled up to the king when its owner held it up during a walkabout which followed a 21-gun salute as they entered the grounds.
The king met Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and representatives of the North’s political parties including Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill, who will attend the queen’s funeral next week after receiving an invitation.
The king warmly shook Ms O’Neill’s hand and said: “Thank you so much for the incredibly kind things you said about my mother.”
“She played a great role here in terms of reconciliation... It’s the end of an era for sure,” Ms O’Neill replied.
— PA/Reuters