
King and Queen conclude three-day visit to Northern Ireland
The King and Queen have concluded their three-day visit to Northern Ireland by greeting members of the public in Banbridge, Co Down.
Hundreds of people gathered in the streets to catch a glimpse of Charles and Camilla, who were greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Co Down, Gawn Rowan Hamilton.
Charles met representatives from the Game of Thrones experience, the owner of a gift shop, as well as local bakers and linen makers at Banbridge Old Town Hall.
Camilla visited Banbridge Library and joined in a reading of 'Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back', written by local author Kate Russell.
Camilla was also presented with a bouquet of pink cupcakes by Nikki McDonald, general manager of The Windsor Bakery, which opened the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
As Charles and Camilla departed from the town hall, they were presented with a ceramic artwork of the Cathedral of Armagh.
They were then told about the history of the Co Down town and briefed on its famous bridge built in 1835.
Before concluding their visit to the region, they shook hands with members of the public, accepting gifts and flowers and petting a few dogs as children wearing paper crowns waved flags.
It concludes a three-day visit to the region, which saw Charles briefed on research into cancer therapies at the Ulster University campus in Coleraine, while Camilla took part in a cookery demonstration at a farm near Limavady with celebrity chef Paula McIntyre.
The monarchs met farmers, artists, acrobats and sea shanty singers during the visit, as well as Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
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The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Creator of shoes worn by the Queen among innovators honoured at awards reception
The creator of a shoe brand whose products are worn by the Queen has been honoured during an awards reception at Windsor Castle. The King welcomed recipients of The King's Awards for Enterprise at Windsor Castle on Thursday, and chatted to the entrepreneurs and innovators whose practices and products have earned them the prestigious recognition. Among the award winners was Lisa Kay, the creator and chief executive of Sole Bliss, whose products Camilla has frequently been seen wearing at public events, and is said to love for their stylish yet comfortable design. Ms Kay, whose business won an award in the international trade category, shook hands with Charles at the reception, and the pair exchanged a few words. She said: 'I (told the King) that Her Royal Highness has purchased our shoes, so hopefully she finds them comfortable. 'He said, 'She like a heel that's not too narrow', so I said 'Yes, a block heel, I understand', he said: 'Yes, a block heel!' 'He said it gets harder to wear heels as you get older, and I said 'I understand'.' Sole Bliss was launched as a 'very small' business in 2017, Ms Kay said. Its popularity soared after Camilla was spotted wearing a pair of Sole Bliss shoes at the 2018 Royal Cornwall Show. 'A year after we launched, that was amazing,' Ms Kay said. She added: 'Women generally just need comfort, so you're not thinking about your feet, you're thinking about where you are, what you're doing… 'It's for every job really – but especially royalty.' Julia Roberts, Dame Helen Mirren, and Olivia Colman are among the celebrities who were also seen wearing Sole Bliss at public events. Asked how she felt about receiving the King's Award for Enterprise, Ms Kay said: 'It just means the world. 'It's so exciting, you can see I'm very overwhelmed,' she added, laughing and fanning her face with her hand. Ms Kay was also praised by Dame Annabel Whitehead, a courtier and former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who walked up to her during the reception and said: 'We all love you here.' Also at the event were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle. The awards recognise outstanding achievements by UK firms in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. They are the most prestigious business awards in the UK, with recipients recognised as being among the best of British businesses. Some 197 businesses received awards across the four categories and can now use The King's Awards emblem for the next five years on their products and to promote their services. The viral cuddly toys company Jellycat was also among the winners, with production director Jack Gatacre describing the reward as 'a great honour'. 'We're very happy that people do love our brand,' Mr Gatacre added. The Prince and Princess of Wales were gifted two Jellycat plushies during a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace last month. Seeing the toys, which were in the shapes of a pickled onion and a lemon tart, William said: 'These are like gold dust. My children go crazy for these things. This is a children's currency.' Asked how he felt knowing that George, Louis, and Charlotte love Jellycat plushies, Mr Gatacre said: 'It delights me, it delights everybody at Jellycat that we can make people happy across the world.' Previously known as The Queen's Award for Enterprise, this is the 59th year of the Awards and the third year recipients received a King's Awards for Enterprise following the scheme's name change.


South Wales Guardian
8 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners
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Belfast Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Creator of shoes worn by the Queen among innovators honoured at awards reception
The King welcomed recipients of The King's Awards for Enterprise at Windsor Castle on Thursday, and chatted to the entrepreneurs and innovators whose practices and products have earned them the prestigious recognition. Among the award winners was Lisa Kay, the creator and chief executive of Sole Bliss, whose products Camilla has frequently been seen wearing at public events, and is said to love for their stylish yet comfortable design. Ms Kay, whose business won an award in the international trade category, shook hands with Charles at the reception, and the pair exchanged a few words. She said: 'I (told the King) that Her Royal Highness has purchased our shoes, so hopefully she finds them comfortable. 'He said, 'She like a heel that's not too narrow', so I said 'Yes, a block heel, I understand', he said: 'Yes, a block heel!' 'He said it gets harder to wear heels as you get older, and I said 'I understand'.' Sole Bliss was launched as a 'very small' business in 2017, Ms Kay said. Its popularity soared after Camilla was spotted wearing a pair of Sole Bliss shoes at the 2018 Royal Cornwall Show. 'A year after we launched, that was amazing,' Ms Kay said. She added: 'Women generally just need comfort, so you're not thinking about your feet, you're thinking about where you are, what you're doing… 'It's for every job really – but especially royalty.' Julia Roberts, Dame Helen Mirren, and Olivia Colman are among the celebrities who were also seen wearing Sole Bliss at public events. Asked how she felt about receiving the King's Award for Enterprise, Ms Kay said: 'It just means the world. 'It's so exciting, you can see I'm very overwhelmed,' she added, laughing and fanning her face with her hand. Ms Kay was also praised by Dame Annabel Whitehead, a courtier and former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who walked up to her during the reception and said: 'We all love you here.' Also at the event were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle. The awards recognise outstanding achievements by UK firms in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. They are the most prestigious business awards in the UK, with recipients recognised as being among the best of British businesses. Some 197 businesses received awards across the four categories and can now use The King's Awards emblem for the next five years on their products and to promote their services. The viral cuddly toys company Jellycat was also among the winners, with production director Jack Gatacre describing the reward as 'a great honour'. 'We're very happy that people do love our brand,' Mr Gatacre added. The Prince and Princess of Wales were gifted two Jellycat plushies during a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace last month. Seeing the toys, which were in the shapes of a pickled onion and a lemon tart, William said: 'These are like gold dust. My children go crazy for these things. This is a children's currency.' Asked how he felt knowing that George, Louis, and Charlotte love Jellycat plushies, Mr Gatacre said: 'It delights me, it delights everybody at Jellycat that we can make people happy across the world.' Previously known as The Queen's Award for Enterprise, this is the 59th year of the Awards and the third year recipients received a King's Awards for Enterprise following the scheme's name change.