THE Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were continuing to tour Northern Ireland today after a welcome reception at HIllsborough Castle yesterday.
Her Majesty and Prince Philip touched down yesterday afternoon, and began their visit with a reception at Hillsborough Castle marking the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Territorial Army.
The tour will culminate tomorrow in the Royal Maundy Service at St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, where the Queen will present 82 men and 82 women with the traditional Maundy purses, representing her 82nd year.
Around 300 TA soldiers, veterans and guests were invited to yesterday's reception.
The royal couple were greeted by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
He said: "I am delighted to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to Hillsborough Castle at the start of a visit that is enormously signifiacnt and historic for everyone."
He added it was a further sign of a "new era of political stability and optimism of the people of Northern Ireland".
Queen salutes battle-scarred soldierQueen arrives in Northern IrelandVisit comes at 'most promising time' for NIThe full article contains 188 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
