King Charles and Queen Camilla Visit Belfast to Mark Irish Music Festival

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Belfast on their first visit to Northern Ireland this year. Their first stop was an event at the Titanic Quarter to mark the city hosting the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festival in August. The festival is recognized as the world's largest celebration of traditional Irish music, song and dance.

It will be the first time Belfast has hosted the event, which is expected to draw thousands of musicians, dancers and visitors.

The royal couple joined organisers and performers at the launch. They were greeted by Irish dancers and musicians and played bodhran drums during the demonstrations. The couple then visited Titanic Distillers inside a restored Edwardian pumphouse that once served the dry dock where the RMS Titanic was berthed.

They spoke with staff and tried their hand at bottling whiskey. They next went to W5 LIFE, a programme launched in 2022 to build digital skills through partnerships with The King's Trust, Microsoft and Almac. King Charles took part in demonstrations of artificial intelligence and robotics technology and met young participants and employers.

This marks the 43rd visit by King Charles to Northern Ireland. He last visited in March 2025. Between 2002 and 2023 he visited every year until his cancer diagnosis in 2024. Queen Camilla has now made 24 visits to Northern Ireland, including 19 as Duchess of Cornwall.

She visited alone in March 2024 after the King's diagnosis. The King is due to make his first visit to the Republic of Ireland since becoming monarch, with the trip expected next year following an invitation from Irish President Catherine Connolly. " — PA Media, May 19, 2026 (BBC News) The couple were welcomed by city officials and the Lord Mayor, who was attending one of her final official duties.