King Charles III coronation: Doors are 'coming off the hinges' at shops selling Union Flag memorabilia across Northern Ireland

Greig Stewart of Victor Stewart Enterprises in Lurgan - which distributes all manner of bands and loyal order goods, said it has been "crazy all week".

He is almost sold out of Union Flags after huge demand.

"It was a slow burner up until last weekend but since then the doors have been nearly coming off the hinges with all the people coming in."

The big sellers, he says, have been Union Flag bunting, flags, hand flags, cake stands, and plates.

"There is a big demand for people putting flags on flagpoles outside or on different walls," he told the News Letter.

"We did a design ourselves and sold about 500 of them and then we had another six or seven from different people.

"We have probably only about 50 flags left out of about 12-1500."

People realise it is a major historical event, he says.

"I don't think Charles has the same appeal as the Queen but primarily people are happy to celebrate, because it is actually a coronation which the vast majority have never seen in our lifetime. It makes it a big deal."

He has had customers travelling significant distances to make purchases.

"I have a guy just off the phone from Fivemiletown who is looking to come up and get some flags.

"And there was a guy from Newry just emailed to ask about flags. Yesterday a guy came down from Coleraine for flag poles and bolted wall holders."

Samantha Dale of Bell's Corner in Carrickfergus had to rush out and get more stock on Thursday night.

She has been finding big demand for commemorative flags, coins, spoons, bunting and hats.

"I think now that everybody's getting in the mood. I think it'll be a good weekend."

She has had customers travelling from Portavogie and Ballycastle to get what they needed for the big day.

A team of Scottish rugby players who were visiting to play in a local tournament also stocked up on flags and other goods last weekend.

Some people ring to check stock before they come.

"I ran out of stock late Thursday afternoon and was telling people that I was going to get fresh stock that night and it would be here on Friday morning.

"And then when I opened up at 8am on Friday there were half a dozen people waiting for me."

A lot of the schools have also got on board - they were all going in today with their Union Flag hats and so on.

"I think the people that have been buying these flags would never have bought a union one before. I think this iis different - specifically for street parties and that sort of thing."​

​

​