May 20, (THEWILL) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined traditional Irish musicians in Belfast on Tuesday, playing bodhrans, a type of Irish drum, and later requested a hip-hop lesson.
The couple tried the drums at Thompson Dock, a popular tourist spot and the last place the Titanic stood on dry ground before its 1912 maiden voyage.
Irish music specialist Niall McClean said, “We happened to have a couple (of bodhrans) sitting on the seat, and the king and queen realised they were there, and they decided to join in with us at the end, it was wonderful.”
Afterwards, they spoke with young musicians and dancers. Dancer Sarah McGarry said it was “lovely to give him a bit of a taste of the Irish culture.”
The couple also watched a hip-hop performance. “He wants us to teach him how to do hip-hop”, said King’s Trust ambassador Jamie Fagan. “He wants a royal hip-hop lesson, in his words”.
Charles and Camilla met Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill. Camilla visited Fane Street Primary School, where 285 pupils speak 47 languages, while Charles met young people supported by his King’s Trust charity.
The visit comes after Irish President, Catherine Connolly, said Charles had “graciously” accepted an invitation to visit Ireland next year, the second visit by a British monarch since Ireland’s independence in 1921.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
