King Charles III continues his journey to visit the countries that make up the United Kingdom. He is in Belfast this Tuesday and will make a first stop at Hillsborough Castle, the royal residence, where he will meet the secretary in charge of Northern Ireland before participating in a ceremony at Saint Anne’s Cathedral.
With our special correspondent in Belfast, Laura Taouchanov
Whereas Elizabeth II’s coffin heads for Londonthe king Charles III headed for Northern Ireland. It is the first time that a monarch has visited the British province for 80 years, but it is a non-event for a whole section of the population. Here, the Republicans, mostly Catholics and pro-reunification do not recognize the royal family and want nothing to do with the UK.
Passing in front of the Saint-Anne cathedral, Chloe and Kate did not even know that a ceremony was planned there this Tuesday. ” A stranger died, it has no impact on my life, except that the currency will change. They spend millions on a funeral, in the middle of a crisis! “, is indignant the first. ” In Northern Ireland, we are left out. Why are we part of the UK if they don’t care about us? “Adds the other.
“The king should publicly display his ambition for this country”
At the checkout counter of their convenience store, Jacqueline and Kate are tired of hearing about the royal family. What interests them rather is what the king will do with Northern Ireland: I don’t think he has much influence on the future here, he can’t intervene in politics. But we would like him to settle the Northern Irish protocol “.
For her part, Andrea wants the new monarch to get involved in the Irish file. ” It’s everywhere in the news, we see that he has an influence and that he meets the ministers every day. They must take it into account! The King should publicly display his ambition for this country and relaunch our Assembly because we have not had a government for a while. We got a lot of problems, he could be a positive influence “, she says.
Charles III, accompanied by new Prime Minister Liz Trusswill address a country where Republicans are gaining momentum, determined to leave the United Kingdom to be reunified with the European part of the island.
► To read also: In Ireland, the death of Elizabeth II also revives the wounds of the past