King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Northern Ireland for a three-day royal visit, with heightened security measures in place following a recent increase in dissident republican activity. The visit comes just weeks after a viable explosive device detonated outside a PSNI police station at Don Murray on the outskirts of Belfast. Body camera footage released by police showed how close the blast came to killing or injuring officers.
Despite the security concerns, royal visits to Northern Ireland have become increasingly frequent in recent years, reflecting the normalisation of relations following decades of conflict. The King and Queen visited the region last year and are expected to carry out another visit to the Republic of Ireland next year, after Irish President Catherine Connolly extended a formal invitation during a meeting at Buckingham Palace.
President Connolly met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace just yesterday, where she invited him to carry out a state visit to the Republic of Ireland, which he graciously accepted. The state visit is expected to take place next year, further strengthening British-Irish relations. A number of men are currently before the courts in connection with the recent dissident attacks.
The three-day programme in Northern Ireland includes engagements across several communities, continuing the royal family's tradition of building bridges and supporting peace and reconciliation. Police have implemented extensive security arrangements for the duration of the visit, with officers deployed across all planned venues and routes. The royal couple were last on the island of Ireland in 2025, and their return demonstrates the ongoing commitment to strengthening cross-community relations.