3 years ago / 8:04 AM EDT

King arrives at Hillsborough Castle

A 21-gun salute began as the king and the queen consort arrived at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday.

The king is expected to hold a private audience with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and will meet with representatives from political parties, the British government said in a release.

They will also receive a message of condolence delivered on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, the release said.

King Charles III and Camilla view floral tributes outside Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday.Niall Carson / AP

Charles and Camilla are also expected to take part in a reception where they will "have the opportunity to meet representatives drawn from a diverse range of Northern Ireland life," it said.

Representatives for Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party with historic links to the IRA, are also expected to meet the king and attend the memorial events for the queen.

3 years ago / 7:51 AM EDT
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3 years ago / 7:46 AM EDT

Corgi greets king in Belfast

King Charles III appeared to take an extra beat to greet a pet corgi while meeting mourners in Belfast.

The new king could be seen gesturing toward the pup before patting the corgi on the head.

King Charles III accompanied by Camilla is greeted by members of the public, including a woman with her pet corgi called Connie, outside Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Charles McQuillan / Getty Images
Charles greets well-wishers as he arrives at Hillsborough Castle in Belfast on Tuesday.Niall Carson / AFP - Getty Images

The moment broadcast on national television brought a smile to Charles' face amid a difficult time for the royal family. For its part, Connie the corgi wiggled and licked the monarch's hand.

3 years ago / 7:39 AM EDT

King and the queen consort meet crowds in Belfast

King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, could be seen getting out of a vehicle Tuesday to meet with crowds who gathered as the couple arrived in Belfast.

The couple could be seen shaking hands with children who reached over a barrier to meet the new king in a territory that has an often fraught relationship with the British crown.

Crowds cheered as Charles and Camilla passed by, with the king scheduled to meet dignitaries and attend a prayer service at St. Anne's Cathedral before returning to London.

3 years ago / 7:19 AM EDT
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3 years ago / 7:11 AM EDT

King Charles lands in Northern Ireland

King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have arrived in Belfast for their visit to Northern Ireland.

The trip marks Charles' first to Northern Ireland as king. He will meet with representatives of Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party with historic links to the Irish Republican Army, in a mark of how far relations have come since the height of the "troubles."

Camilla is greeted by Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle as King Chares III is greeted by, left to right, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport Matthew Hall, Ella Smith, age 10, and Lucas Watt, age 10, as they arrive at Belfast City Airport, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday. Liam McBurney / WPA Pool AP

Members of the public could be seen lining streets in Belfast and outside Hillsborough Castle awaiting the king's arrival. 

3 years ago / 6:32 AM EDT
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3 years ago / 6:20 AM EDT

Mourners in Northern Ireland await King Charles

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Crowds of people lined the streets of Belfast and outside Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland on Tuesday morning as they waited for King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, to arrive.

Young girls holding flowers await the arrival of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday.Charles McQuillan / Getty Images

Charles will visit Northern Ireland for the first time since ascending the throne following the queen’s death. He is expected to meet political leaders, receive condolences and attend a prayer service during the visit.

Members of the public line the streets as they wait for Charles and Camilla to arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday.Charles McQuillan / Getty Images
3 years ago / 5:53 AM EDT

What will happen to floral tributes after queen's funeral? 

Rhoda Kwan

Mourners hoping to leave flower tributes for the queen are being asked to remove all packaging and place them at allocated gardens in Green Park and Hyde Park, according to the Royal Parks, the charity which manages royal parkland in London.

Flowers left outside of the allotted zones, such as at the gates of Buckingham Palace, will be relocated to the specified area if they are in good condition, the charity said. Tributes that have deteriorated will be moved to the Hyde Park nursery to be processed for composting, according to its website.

The tribute zones will remain until all ceremonial proceedings have taken place, and are expected to be removed within 14 days of the funeral next Monday.

Floral tributes laid by the public in memory of Queen Elizabeth II are seen outside the gates of Balmoral Castle on Sept. 11, 2022, in Aberdeen, Scotland.Samir Hussein / WireImage
3 years ago / 5:49 AM EDT

'It doesn’t matter if you’re a royalist or not,' mourners say

Brothers Cameron and Reece Wilkins, and their cousin Calvin Wilkins, all joiners working at a site nearby, were undeterred by the prospect of waiting for hours to pay their respects to the queen.

“We’re supposed to be working, but we wanted to come and see this piece of history,” said Calvin Wilkins, 25. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a royalist or not, she was the longest-serving monarch, so it’s something you’ve got to see.”

Brothers Cameron and Reece Wilkins, and their cousin Calvin Wilkins, were willing to wait for hours to pay their respects to the queen in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alexander Smith