Queen continues Northern Ireland trip with Giant's Causeway tour

The Queen has visited the famous stones of the Giant's Causeway as part of her 90th birthday tour of Northern Ireland's scenic north coast.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jun 2016, 11:53 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 20:48 BST
Queen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, meeting Northern Ireland national Trust chairman Bob Brown during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthdayQueen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, meeting Northern Ireland national Trust chairman Bob Brown during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday
Queen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, meeting Northern Ireland national Trust chairman Bob Brown during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday

The monarch and Duke of Edinburgh braved blustery conditions to view the landmark Unesco World Heritage site in Co Antrim.

The world renowned visitor site is made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the majority hexagonal, that were created in a volcanic eruption.

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While that is the geological explanation, ancient folklore has it that Irish giant Finn MacCool built the causeway by hand in an effort to traverse the North Channel to do battle with a Scottish giant.

Queen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, speaks to Neville McConachie during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthdayQueen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, speaks to Neville McConachie during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday
Queen Elizabeth II and the her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, speaks to Neville McConachie during a visit to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday

The existence of similar stone columns on the Scottish isle of Staffa helped build the legend down the centuries.

On her day of engagements on the coastline, the Queen will repeat part of a train journey she made in her coronation year.

The Royal couple will also unveil a statue to a Co Antrim soldier who won a Victoria Cross for valour in the First World War.

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They landed in Northern Ireland on Monday evening for a two-day trip. Shortly after her arrival at Hillsborough Castle, the Queen met Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness separately.

Tourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthdayTourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday
Tourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday

On exchanges picked up on camera, the Queen joked with Mr McGuinness that she was “still alive” and said she had been busy celebrating “two birthdays”.

Afterwards, the political leaders remained tight-lipped on whether the Brexit furore was discussed in their private meetings.

The visit to the north coast marks the Queen’s first round of public engagements since the UK voted to leave the European Union.

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After touring the Giant’s Causeway, they are visiting the nearby village of Bushmills - where they will unveil a statue to VC recipient Robert Quigg.

Tourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthdayTourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday
Tourists await the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Giant's Causeway on the Co Antrim coast during the second day of her visit to Northern Ireland to mark her 90th birthday

The soldier was awarded the highest military honour for bravery during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The royal couple will also attend a reception at Royal Portrush Golf Club. The seaside course is due to host the Open Championship in 2019.

In a full day of engagements, the Queen and the Duke will also take a steam train journey to the newly-opened Bellarena station on the historic Coleraine-to-Londonderry line.

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The Queen travelled the same section of track in 1953, a month after her coronation.

The trip is the third high-profile royal visit to Northern Ireland in a matter of weeks, after appearances by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Related topics:The QueenQueenNorthern IrelandMartin McGuinness