King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the Northern Irish First Minister and her Deputy this afternoon.
The meeting comes as part of the royal couple's surprise visit to Belfast, where they joined organisers and performers to mark a landmark moment for the city, which will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann this August.
The festival, recognised as the world's largest celebration of traditional Irish music, song and dance, has never before been held in Belfast.
King Charles and Queen Camilla subsequently made their way to Titanic Distillers, and later W5 LIFE, an initiative established in 2022 to address the digital skills requirements of Northern Ireland's evolving economy.
Following their engagements throughout the afternoon, the monarch and his wife sat down for a meeting with Northern Irish First Minister Michelle O’Neill and her deputy, Emma Little-Pengelly, at Hillsborough Castle.
King Charles could be seen firmly shaking hands with Mrs O'Neill, before laughing with Mrs Little-Pengelly.
The Deputy First Minister took to social media to welcome the King, including a photo of the pair sitting in the castle.
"It is wonderful to have Their Majesties in Northern Ireland for a Royal Visit and to have the opportunity for a conversation with His Majesty, The King and to meet with Her Majesty, The Queen," the caption read.
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the Northern Irish First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, this afternoon
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King Charles and Queen Camilla could be seen laughing with Emma Little-Pengelly
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"I wish them all the very best for the rest of the trip!"
The King met both the First Minister and her Deputy in March 2025, his last visit to the country, which also saw him enjoying whiskey-tasting in the city centre.
The sovereign's love for whiskey continued through today's trip, when the couple were given an insight into the craft of whiskey production during a tour of the Titanic distillery.
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The Deputy First Minister took to social media to welcome the King, including a photo of the pair sitting in the castle
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They also had the chance to try their hand at bottling whiskey themselves.
King Charles has been a frequent visitor to Northern Ireland, making the short trip every year between 2002 and 2023, when he revealed his cancer diagnosis.
Queen Camilla is equally fond, with today's visit marking her 24th. Following the King's cancer diagnosis, she made the trip solo.
Today's trip has been action-packed. They began with a visit centred on celebrating the region's cultural heritage and creative industries.
Later, the King and Queen made their way to Titanic Distillers, where they had their hand in whiskey production.
The historic building once served the adjacent dry dock where the RMS Titanic was famously berthed.
The royal couple then proceeded to W5 LIFE, which operates through collaborations with The King's Trust, Microsoft and Almac, focusing on developing Stem capabilities and creating new career opportunities for participants.
The King also met with young people participating in the programme, along with employers and celebrity ambassadors from The King's Trust who support the initiative.
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