HRH the Duke of York attends Hillsborough garden party
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland hosts the annual Hillsborough garden party with guest of honour, HRH the Duke of York
His Royal Highness the Duke of York today was guest of honour at the annual garden party in the grounds of Hillsborough Castle, hosted by the Secretary of State.
On arrival HRH was greeted by David Lindsay, Lord Lieutenant of County Down and went on to meet The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, The Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland and Hilary Jackson, Director General, Northern Ireland Office.
Accompanied by the Secretary of State, HRH met Matt Baggot, Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and a number of officers and their guests in the rose garden. The Duke went on to meet Brigadier Edward Smyth-Osbourne, Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade and a number of personnel serving in Northern Ireland and their guests.
Arriving in the main garden, the national anthem was played by the band of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and HRH was invited to plant a tree, assisted by Hillsborough Castle Financial Administrator Nikki Edgar to commemorate the visit.
HRH went on to meet around 2,000 invited guests, including bereaved family members and injured personnel of the Royal Irish Regiment.