Crowds gather to welcome the Queen to Hillsborough

Crowds gathered to greet the Queen and Prince Philip when they arrived in the village on Tuesday night after a visit to Enniskillen where they attended a thanksgiving service and met survivors of the Poppy Day bomb.

Around 400 well-wishers gathered to welcome Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on their last public engagement of the day.

Having arrived from Enniskillen by helicopter shortly after 5pm, the Royals made a short journey by car along the village’s main street and through the front gates of the Queen’s official residence in Northern Ireland.

As the Queen and Duke arrived on the driveway in front of Government House, a huge cheer went up from the crowd attracting a smile and a wave from Her Majesty. The noisy greeting was quickly followed by a spontaneous rendition of ‘God Save the Queen’ as the Royal Standard was raised over the 18th century building.

The Queen unveiled a statue of the mythical warrior poet Oisin on the front lawn after which the Royals and invited dignitaries made their way into Government House to chants of “we want the Queen” from the crowd.

Despite the Royal-watchers’ best efforts, there was to be no walkabout.

There will be full coverage of the Royal visit in this week’s Ulster Star