By Karim El-Bar
LONDON (AA) – King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, visited Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
It is the first visit to the country from a British king in 77 years, and the king’s first as monarch, though it is his 40th visit overall to the country.
The king met with the major political and religious leaders of Northern Ireland, including Michelle O’Neill, vice president of the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein party, as well as holding a private audience with the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
In the Stormont Assembly, which is Northern Ireland’s devolved legislature, Charles and Camilla received a message of condolences on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.
The assembly’s speaker, Alex Maskey, praised Queen Elizabeth II’s role in helping secure peace on the island of Ireland by recognizing both British and Irish traditions and the diversity of the Northern Irish community.
“She showed that a small and insignificant gesture – a visit, a handshake, crossing the street or speaking a few words of Irish – can make a huge difference in changing attitudes and building relationships,” he said.
Charles pledged to “seek the welfare” of all Northern Irish people.
He added that Elizabeth “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.
“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.”
The service was attended by British Prime Minister Liz Truss, Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
The British king shook hands with the Irish president after the memorial service.
Charles and Camilla also attended a service of reflection on Queen Elizabeth II’s life at St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
This evening, the queen’s coffin will be transported to Buckingham Palace, London, from Edinburgh.
The coffin will be accompanied by the king’s sister, Princess Anne, the princess royal, and will be met at London by the king and the queen consort.
Later in the week, Charles III will visit Wales, having already visited Scotland and finished his visit to Northern Ireland. Along with England, these four countries make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.