Prior to departing for Hillsborough Castle for a number of engagements, Their Majesties will arrive at Belfast City Airport where they will be greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport.
The King and Consort will arrive to Hillsborough Castle, where His Majesty will meet with political party members and conduct a private audience with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly will also send a message of condolence on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland to Their Majesties.
The Secretary of State will hold a reception at Hillsborough Castle where the King and The Queen Consort will have the chance to mingle with people from all facets of Northern Ireland society.
A service of reflection honouring the life of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II will be held at St. Anne’s Cathedral later in the afternoon, and His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will go there.
Then, before departing, Their Majesties will do a tour to Writers’ Square.
Information for the general public about visiting Hillsborough Castle
Before the event, members of the public are invited to Royal Hillsborough to line the road. By 1100, the whole public should be present.
Parking is unavailable for guests or visitors.
From the designated Park and Ride area at the Eikon Centre on Halftown Road in Lisburn, special transportation is available.
Other than this Park & Ride service, there won’t be any public access to the Castle during this time.
The website for Translink has further details on the public transportation options as well as schedules for shuttle buses.
Before boarding buses for Hillsborough Castle, visitors must pass through a security check at the Eikon Center. The Eikon Centre has restrooms and snacks that you may use before going to Royal Hillsborough.
The Park & Ride buses to Royal Hillsborough will not accept big baggage, such as backpacks and rucksacks; you will be requested to return any large bags to your vehicle and will need to walk through the line again.
Please be aware that in the designated area at Hillsborough Castle, only floral tributes will be accepted.
All floral tributes will be thoroughly inspected by security upon arrival at the Eikon Centre, and any cellophane wrapping will be taken off and discarded there to reduce the danger of a fire. Additionally, notes will be taken out and stored by the NIO at the Eikon Center for later transmission to Buckingham Palace.
Soft toys and other objects are not permitted to be placed; they will be taken away and kept at the Eikon Center. The NIO will provide soft toys to regional hospitals.
The tributes should be given to an event steward at Hillsborough Castle upon arrival so that they may be laid in the designated spot in the forecourt.
Route details for the trip between Hillsborough and Belfast St. Anne’s
The Service of Reflection at St. Anne’s Cathedral will start at 1500, and His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort will leave Hillsborough Castle at 1420 to get there. They will go via Main Street and Lisburn Street.
Along Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, Chichester Street, and Victoria Street, they will enter Belfast City Center.
As His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort make their way to the Cathedral, members of the public are more than welcome to line the road. There will be no public access to Writers Square or Donegall Street.
Information for the public regarding the St. Anne’s Service of Reflection
Invitations are required to attend the service of reflection at St. Anne’s Cathedral. A select group of people have been given the opportunity to watch the activities in St. Anne’s Cathedral from Writers’ Square. Writers’ Square and the service of contemplation are off-limits to the general public. The service will only be accessible with a ticket.
On the website of Belfast City Council, as well as on public television screens inside Belfast City Hall, you may get further details on the city’s overall activities.
Q&A
The Eikon Center is where?
The Eikon Centre is about ten minutes from Royal Hillsborough and near to the M1.
You can find the Hillsborough Park & Ride by following the yellow signage. If coming from, you will be instructed as follows:
The South (A1): After passing Royal Hillsborough Village, stay on the A1 and make a left into Harrys Road.
The East (M1): Merge onto the Blaris Road at junction 7 of the M1.
The West (M1): Turn south onto the Halftown Road from the M1 by exiting at junction 9 onto the A3.
The North (A26): Turn East onto the A3 and then South onto Halftown Road at the intersection of the M1 and A3.
How do I use public transportation to get there?
There will be a shuttle bus service between Lisburn train station and the Eikon Center.
Although public transportation will still pass past Royal Hillsborough, the only way to get to the Castle will be via the Eikon Center. You may give staff members flower tributes to lay on your behalf.
The reason for the security check
Hillsborough Castle, as you are aware, is a protected location. As a result, everyone arriving on site will need to go through a quick security check before boarding the buses at the Eikon Centre as well as another check before entering Hillsborough Castle.
During this security inspection, all cellophane from flower offerings will be removed. The Hillsborough Castle site will not accept any further tributes, thus visitors are kindly asked not to bring any other memorial items.
Visitors are asked not to carry heavy luggage or holdalls to enable a quick security check.
The Eikon Centre will not include a baggage storage area.
Do I need to go through the Eikon Centre if I’m attending the ceremonial events?
Yes. Visitors attending ceremonial events in Belfast and Royal Hillsborough are also requested to make the trip to the Eikon Centre.
Visitors and members of the public wishing to place floral tributes will be treated differently.
The Northern Ireland Office ought to have informed you about travel arrangements along with confirmation of your attendance at the event (s).
I reside in Hillsborough, do I need to go to Eikon?
The Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has sent a brochure outlining the particular measures in place during the time of national mourning to residents and business owners in Royal Hillsborough Village.
For further information and help, please call the Community Assistance Centre at 028 9244 7999 if you haven’t already.
Do I really need to travel to Eikon if all I want to do is lay flowers?
Except for neighbourhood residents and business owners, Hillsborough Castle is only accessible to the general public during the time of national mourning through the Park & Ride facility at the Eikon Centre.
Flowers may be given to the employees outside Hillsborough Castle; the flowers will be set in the designated spot once any other materials (such as wrappings and other tributes) have been removed.