King and Queen on first visit to Northern Ireland this year

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in Belfast on their first visit to Northern Ireland this year.

First stop for the royal couple was an event at the Titanic Quarter of Belfast to celebrate the city hosting this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is the world's largest festival of Irish music and dance.

Due to be held in August, it will be the first time the city has hosted the festival.

At the event today, the royal couple were greeted by Irish dancers and musicians.

'I don't think I slept last night'

One of the musicians involved in the event admitted being extremely nervous before the performance for royalty.

"I don't think I slept last night," said Bronagh McClean, from County Down.

She helps to run Ards CCÉ (Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann), which means society for the musicians of Ireland.

"Bringing everybody together is what it's all about.

"When we work together we can create lovely music and friendships, and they're there forever," she said.

Members of the Belfast Bands Forum got a surprise when the royal couple appeared.

Darren Leighton said: "The band members weren't briefed until this morning on who was coming. They didn't know until the King actually stepped out of the car."

The coming together of band music and traditional Irish music, in front of the royal couple, was for many the highlight of the event.

"The collaboration is working very well. It's great musically to see what can be done," said Maurice Brown, from the bands forum.

Just after the King and Queen left Titanic quarter for their next engagement, torrential rain began.

During the visit, it stayed mainly dry.

It is the 43rd time that he has visited Northern Ireland, first as Prince of Wales and now as King.

No date has been confirmed but it is expected to take place next year.

The invitation came from Irish President Catherine Connolly, who is currently on an official visit to England.

The King's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, paid a state visit to Ireland in 2011, the first by a British monarch since Irish independence.

The first visit by the King to Northern Ireland was back in 1961 with his mother, his father the Duke of Edinburgh and his sister Princess Anne.

Between 2002 and 2023, he visited Northern Ireland every year before his cancer diagnosis in 2024.

The latest visit to Belfast is the 24th by Queen Camilla. She made 19 visits when she was Duchess of Cornwall.

The royal couple were welcomed to Belfast on their latest visit by John Walsh, chief executive of the city council.

Also in attendance was the Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly, in one of her final official duties in the role.