King Charles and the Queen Consort are preparing to fly to Northern Ireland for a historic visit as the new monarch tours his realm.

The monarch has left the royal residence in Edinburgh for the city’s airport for what will be the first visit to the country by a British king in nearly 80 years.

It will mark King Charles’s 40th trip to the country but his first as monarch.

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The monarch and the Queen Consort, who are on their Operation Spring Tide tour around the UK, are heading to Belfast from Scotland.

They will travel back to London later where the King will receive his mother’s coffin at Buckingham Palace.

After touching down in Belfast, the royal couple will travel to Hillsborough Castle in County Down for several engagements.

Hundreds of people are gathering in the village of Royal Hillsborough ahead of the King’s arrival, with many lining the village’s Main Street near the castle.

Spectators are being driven into the village on shuttle buses amid a massive security operation.

Once at the castle, the King and Queen Consort will hold a private audience with the new Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and receive a message of condolence on behalf of the country’s people from the speaker of Stormont Assembly Alex Maskey.

They will then be joined by members of the public for a reception at the castle hosted by Mr Heaton-Harris.

The royal couple will also meet Sinn Fein First Minister-designate Michelle O’Neill.

The meeting highlights the rapid evolution of Irish republican politics over the last decade.

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Back in 2011, Sinn Fein was widely-criticised for boycotting the Queen’s state visit to Ireland. It was the first state visit by a British monarch since Ireland won independence from Britain a century ago.

Once finished with their engagements at the castle, King Charles and Camilla will then travel to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for a service of reflection for the life of the Queen.

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney are due to attend the memorial service at St Anne’s Cathedral.

The royal couple will also meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland.

Members of the public have been invited to line the streets between the castle and the cathedral as King Charles and Camilla will travel along Main Street and Lisburn Street in Hillsborough, before heading to Belfast along Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, Chichester Street and Victoria Street.

The King and Queen Consort will also visit Writers’ Square in Belfast, which will be closed to the public.

Meanwhile, the Queen’s coffin will make a poignant journey to Buckingham Palace from St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Members of the public are already queueing for the Queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall in London, which opens on Wednesday, and thousands are still placing flowers and tributes in Green Park.

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