King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled to Belfast at the start of an official visit to Northern Ireland today, where they were greeted with a vibrant celebration of Irish culture

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The King and Queen play traditional Irish bodhran drums in a visit to Belfast today (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

The King and Queen danced, played the drums and even sampled shots of whiskey on a lively start to a surprise three-day visit to Northern Ireland

The couple were greeted with music, singing, dancing – and a taoscán of Titanic – in the capital, Belfast as they joined organisers and performers to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the world’s largest festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance – which is coming to the city this August for the first time.

Charles and Camilla were greeted by more than two hundred performers at Thompson Dock, where the Titanic was last on dry land in 1911 before its fateful maiden voyage.

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The couple play the drums while dancers perform (Image: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock)

They were serenaded with an instrumental version of ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma’, before local schoolchildren playing a variety of instruments including whistles and a harp began performing for them as the couple walked down the line, thanking them profusely.

There were also groups of dancers from different cultures, representing Belfast’s rich ethnic diversity including Mexican, Polish and a group from the MSCNI – Multi Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland – which brings together people from diverse backgrounds to promote community cohesion.

As a drummer played, Charles, 77, couldn’t resist tapping his feet and getting involved, moving rhythmically to the sounds of the musician.

He was hugged warmly around the waist by Tendai Nyamayaro, 38, originally from Zimbabwe who has been living in Belfast for two and a half years, with the laughing monarch slapping his back and returning the gesture.

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The couple sample whiskey during a visit to Titanic Distillers (Image: Toby Melville/PA Wire)

Mr Nyamayaro said afterwards: “The King’s got rhythm! He did have some rhythm! What a beautiful thing to have happened. Showing up to celebrate our different cultures here in Belfast.

“It’s a wonderful place, the people are lovely, so friendly and welcoming. There’s a real energy here. It was so beautiful.” Charles and Camilla were also invited to listen to and watch some traditional Irish music and dancing.

Seated at the side of the stage, they played a Bodhran, a traditional type of drum before moving on to the stage to thank the dancers for their performance.

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The King chats to a group of Irish dancers(Image: Getty Images)

He told them: “You must be so out of breath, fantastic. Are you all professionals?” He looked shocked when told they were amateurs.

After, the King and Queen moved to the nearby Titanic Distillers, a distinctive distillery housed within the restored Edwardian pumphouse that once served the adjoining dry dock, famed for holding the RMS Titanic.

After meeting distillery staff the couple were taken on a tour of their stunning copper stills before trying their hand at trying two different types of whiskey.Camilla raised her eyebrows dramatically but gamely tried a sip of the hard stuff saying: “I’ve got to get to my next engagement,’ joking of her visit to a local primary school.

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Charles and Camilla watch a performance by members of the Mexican community (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Taking a sip, she knocked the brew back, rolling her eye in mock surprise. “Delicious. But quite strong! It’s nice and warming,” she said. “It’s very strong,” she warned her husband, who leaned over to pick up a glass.

The couple were then given a bottle of five-year-old Pot Still to take home with them, as well as glasses, a commemorative coin marking the first distilling after prohibition was lifted and some flowers by Coco Syminton, 15, and her siblings Evie, nine, and Alfie, seven.

Afterwards, the King met those taking part in the W5 LIFE (Learning Innovation for Everyone) initiative, which was created to help meet the evolving skills of Northern Ireland’s rapidly growing digital economy.

As he met those taking part, he was offered a lesson in hip hop dance and accepted a beaded bag charm for his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte.

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The King receives a gift for Princess Charlotte in Belfast today(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

One participant Jamie Fagan, a King’s Trust ambassador who founded a dance business called Urban Motion was performing alongside a handful of young dancers.

The King appeared fascinated by the performance. Mr Fagan told him that rather than learning a set of routines they learn specific moves and then just express themselves. He asked the teenagers if they practised at home, noting that it was “good exercise”. “You make it up as you go along?” he asked.

Mr Fagan said he had so far reached more than 500,000 young people. “You’re getting towards a million,” the King told him. “Very enterprising”.

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Camilla on a visit to Fane Street Primary School today (Image: Getty Images)

The dance teacher then told the monarch: “If you ever need a lesson..” The King replied with a chuckle: “If I ever do, I’ll know who to call.”

He went on to meet Fiona Shannon, who runs her own ceramics business and often works with the King’s Trust, telling her: “I’m very proud of you” as well as Shannon Dharmaratne, who will soon launch her business, teddycare, selling inclusive teddy bears that have disabilities and wear cochlear implants, glasses or a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line. The King appeared fascinated by the bears, feeling the fabric and asking about the material and whether they were made in the UK.

He also met Rachel Rose, who set up jewellery business Empower Flower last July. “I wanted to give back after experiencing some dark times myself,” she said. “I’m trying to encourage people to come off their phones and use their hands to create some magic.”

Ms Rose gave the King a beaded bag charm to take home for Princess Charlotte, 11, “Thank you, she will love that,” he said.

Elsewhere, the Queen visited Fane Street Primary School to learn about its vibrant and diverse community before presenting a number of student awards. Her visit came after she received a bundle of letters from pupils, inviting her to visit the school, which has 285 pupils representing 45 countries and speaking 47 different languages.