
King and Queen conclude three-day visit to Northern Ireland
Hundreds of people gathered in the streets to catch a glimpse of Charles and Camilla, who were greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Co Down, Gawn Rowan Hamilton.
Charles met representatives from the Game of Thrones experience, the owner of a gift shop, as well as local bakers and linen makers at Banbridge Old Town Hall.
Camilla visited Banbridge Library and joined in a reading of 'Peanut Gets His Sparkle Back', written by local author Kate Russell.
Camilla was also presented with a bouquet of pink cupcakes by Nikki McDonald, general manager of The Windsor Bakery, which opened the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
As Charles and Camilla departed from the town hall, they were presented with a ceramic artwork of the Cathedral of Armagh.
They were then told about the history of the Co Down town and briefed on its famous bridge built in 1835.
Before concluding their visit to the region, they shook hands with members of the public, accepting gifts and flowers and petting a few dogs as children wearing paper crowns waved flags.
It concludes a three-day visit to the region, which saw Charles briefed on research into cancer therapies at the Ulster University campus in Coleraine, while Camilla took part in a cookery demonstration at a farm near Limavady with celebrity chef Paula McIntyre.
The monarchs met farmers, artists, acrobats and sea shanty singers during the visit, as well as Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans 'can't think straight' after binge-watching 'incredible' drama
The series dropped on Netflix yesterday, and fans have been staying up until the early hours to finish it, with some admitting they 'cried a lot'. Netflix enthusiasts have been burning the midnight oil to binge-watch the second part of The Sandman season 2, which made its debut on the streaming service just yesterday. The concluding volume of the show's latest season has left viewers "in tears", with some fans confessing they "won't be able to think straight for a long time". Adapted from Neil Gaiman's acclaimed comic book series, The Sandman chronicles the journey of Morpheus, the Master of Dreams, as he endeavours to reclaim his kingdom's former splendour. The Netflix series' blurb states: "When the Sandman, aka Dream, the cosmic being who controls all dreams, is captured and held prisoner for more than a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused." Tom Sturridge's portrayal of the eponymous character has garnered applause, and the series boasts a glittering cast including Game of Thrones alumni Gwendoline Christie and Charles Dance, alongside Doctor Who alumna Jenna Coleman. Fans took to X, the platform previously known as Twitter, to express their feelings about the latest instalment of The Sandman season 2. One fan exclaimed: "Whoa! Whoa! #TheSandmanSeason2 was incredible, and I am so excited for the bonus episode coming out July 31." Another viewer posted: "So I finished watching season 2. It was a long journey that I will never forget. It's an amazing show, and amazing people working on it. I will never be the same after this, and I cried a lot of tears. I don't think I will be able to think straight for a long time." Another fan gushed: "Finished all V2 episodes in one sitting... It's almost 7am. It was so good. Tom Sturridge did an amazing job as Dream. The entire cast and team are REALLY some of the best, I cannot remember the last time a show left such an impact on me." An emotional viewer shared: "The last few episodes of Sandman were incredibly emotional. Even though I knew how the story would end, I still couldn't hold back my tears. A huge thank you to Tom Sturridge for being the best Morpheus imaginable." Get Netflix free with Sky This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £15 Sky Get the deal here Product Description Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its debut on Netflix in 2022, The Sandman has been embroiled in controversy following allegations of sexual misconduct against creator Gaiman by several women, which he has denied. Rumours swirled that Netflix cancelled The Sandman after two seasons due to the scandal, but showrunner Allan Heinberg has clarified that the decision for a two-season arc was made prior to filming the second series, reports the Express. "The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream's story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season," he explained on X. Heinberg expressed gratitude towards Netflix for reuniting the team and providing the necessary support to create a faithful adaptation that aims to both surprise and satisfy the comic's dedicated fans and new viewers alike. The Sandman is now exclusively available for streaming on Netflix.


Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Major ITV drama with Hollywood star cancelled after just one series
Hollywood actress Sophie Turner starred in the title role of Joan for ITV but despite high ratings, it has been cancelled by the broadcaster after just one series. ITV's hit drama Joan has been axed after just one series. The gritty true crime drama featured former Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner in the leading role of accomplished jewel thief Joan Hannington, a single mother who has turned to a life of crime to provide for her daughter, and drew in four million viewers for the broadcaster. Despite its success, it has now been confirmed that no more episodes will be produced thanks to an scheduling issues with its leading star. A spokesperson said: "ITV and Snowed-In Productions would love to produce another series of Joan. However, as a consequence of cast availability and following co-production discussions it has meant a second series wasn't possible.' Prior to this announcement, Richard Laxton previously claimed that there was 'definitely potential' for the series to continue, although things have now changed. There had been attempts to bring Joan's story to the screen before, with A-listers Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow both having been tied to projects that never came to fruition. Sophie, who divorced former Disney Channel star Joe Jonas last year after five years of marriage and is now dating Peregrine Pearson, will soon be seen in the upcoming thriller Trust and has also been filming the leading role in the Amazon Prime series Steal It's also thought that she will be taking on the role of video game heroine Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider TV series, nearly 25 years after Angelina Jolie first brought the part to the big screen. After an extensive promotional campaign, ITV finally aired the much-anticipated first episode of Joan in September last year and told the story over a period of six episodes. In the first instalment, viewers met Joan juggling motherhood to her daughter Kelly, boogieing to Bucks Fizz in the kitchen, and strutting off to work at a local club. But tensions soared when she returned home to find her husband Gary (Nick Blood) missing. He reappeared with daylight, and dropped a bombshell about his need to vanish due to dangerous pursuits. The stakes were raised to heart-stopping heights when Joan stared down the barrel of a gun, held by thugs in her own home. The reality hit hard, and she resolves to ditch Gary, entrusting her daughter to foster care while she scrambles for their next move. At the time, the actress explained how she had found herself drawn to the project, stating: "There was so much about the show that appealed. First of all, it was a story about a real woman. Joan had an obscene appetite for adventure and doing new things. I was drawn as well to the way she could compartmentalise her life." Turner also had the opportunity to meet the real-life Joan Hannington, describing their encounter as deeply emotional. "The moment Joan walked in, she burst into tears. We hadn't even said anything. She just said, 'It's perfect.' I think Frank [Dillane] cried, too. It was just a very, very emotional meeting. I learned such a lot from her. I learnt about her bravado, the way she owned the room as she walked into it it was like she had the world wrapped around her little finger." When the programme finally made it to air, it drew millions of viewers and won praise from fans across social media, with one writing: "I hope this production and all the actors and actresses inside, win some awards, they did such a good job. Even more impressive and touching when you remember that everything you're seeing really happened. It's very gripping. A second viewer said: "This drama is fabulous, loving the story and the 80's vibe." Another viewer was spot on board, tweeting: "I'm loving the 80's music on this programme tonight. Capturing the nostalgia, another chimed in: "Joan. Omg it's taking me right back to the 80s my era. I love it. Music. Clothes. Sony Walkman headphones... smokin' in clubs." (sic) A fifth viewer was also impressed with the nostalgiac setting of the programme, adding: "So far a show set in 1985 has had Making Your Mind Up on the radio and Tainted Love in a club (both 1981). The soundtrack approach seems to be 'any 80s tunes will do'."


Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
ITV thriller won't return as second series 'isn't possible' despite rave reviews
A popular ITV crime drama won't be back with a second series, despite TV fans showering the series with praise Despite the first series receiving high praise from telly enthusiasts, ITV 's popular crime drama Joan won't be returning for a second series. The six-part series, which premiered on ITV in September 2024, featured Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner in the lead role as Joan Hannington. The programme recounted the true tale of jewel thief Joan, who nicked over £3 million worth of jewels in London during the 1980s and earned herself the moniker The Godmother in the capital's underworld. The plot summary reads: "Joan Hannington, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her 20s, is a devoted mother to her 6-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. "Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to create a secure home." Upon its release last year, Joan proved to be a massive hit with TV fans, with many leaving glowing reviews and lauding Sophie's performance, reports the Express. "I hope this production and all the actors and actresses inside, win some awards, they did such a good job. Even more impressive and touching when you remember that everything you're seeing really happened. It's very gripping," one person penned online. One viewer chimed in, stating: "The best programme I have seen in ages and the music was amazing and took me back to my early life which I loved. The actors especially Sophie were amazing and should all get awards for this." Despite the rave reviews, ITV has confirmed there won't be a second series of Joan due to the cast's hectic schedules. A spokesperson revealed to The Sun: "ITV and Snowed-In Productions would love to produce another series of Joan. However, as a consequence of cast availability, and following co-production discussions, a second series isn't possible." Sophie, who is a mum to two daughters with her former spouse Joe Jonas, is juggling numerous projects, making it understandable that she's finding it hard to squeeze in time to film a follow-up series of Joan. The starlet is lined up to play Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider TV series and she's also set to appear in sci-fi flick Cloud One and horror movie The Dreadful.