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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Queen and Duke in three-day visit | Queen and Duke in three-day visit |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Northern Ireland at the beginning of a three-day visit. | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Northern Ireland at the beginning of a three-day visit. |
| The royal couple will carry out a number of engagements in Belfast and at Hillsborough Castle over the next few days. | The royal couple will carry out a number of engagements in Belfast and at Hillsborough Castle over the next few days. |
| The visit will also include the Royal Maundy Service at St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday. | The visit will also include the Royal Maundy Service at St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh on Thursday. |
| The Queen attended a reception at Hillsborough Castle. | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the visit was "an enormously significant and historic occasion for everyone". | Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the visit was "an enormously significant and historic occasion for everyone". |
| "In this new era of political stability and optimism the people of Northern Ireland, who continue to embrace our shared vision of normality, will see a Royal Maundy Service take place here for the first time ever in the historic City of Armagh," he said. | "In this new era of political stability and optimism the people of Northern Ireland, who continue to embrace our shared vision of normality, will see a Royal Maundy Service take place here for the first time ever in the historic City of Armagh," he said. |
| William Hall, the Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, greeted the Queen and the Duke on their arrival at Hillsborough Castle and went on to introduce the Northern Ireland Secretary. | |
| Irish president | Irish president |
| On Thursday, the Queen will hand out Maundy Thursday alms purses to people in Armagh, part of an ancient ceremony held each Easter. | On Thursday, the Queen will hand out Maundy Thursday alms purses to people in Armagh, part of an ancient ceremony held each Easter. |
| She will present 82 men and 82 women with the traditional Maundy purses, which is to represent her 82nd year. | She will present 82 men and 82 women with the traditional Maundy purses, which is to represent her 82nd year. |
| The presentations are given in recognition of people's services to both church and community. | The presentations are given in recognition of people's services to both church and community. |
| The Queen has attended 52 Maundy Services at more than 40 cathedrals during her reign. | The Queen has attended 52 Maundy Services at more than 40 cathedrals during her reign. |
| It is held on the Thursday of Holy Week to mark Christ's Last Supper and used to include a symbolic washing of feet. This was discontinued in the early 1700s. | It is held on the Thursday of Holy Week to mark Christ's Last Supper and used to include a symbolic washing of feet. This was discontinued in the early 1700s. |
| The last time the Queen was in Northern Ireland was in June 2007 at a party for the community and voluntary sector in Coleraine, County Londonderry. | |
| She was also in Northern Ireland in October 2006 for the final review of the home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment before they were disbanded last summer. | |
| The Queen held a meeting with Irish President Mary McAleese for the first time on the island of Ireland in December 2005. | The Queen held a meeting with Irish President Mary McAleese for the first time on the island of Ireland in December 2005. |