Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Garden Party in Hillshorough.Photo John Harrison.	Prince Charles with the Mayor of Lisburn Councillor James Tinsley and Mayoress Margaret Tinsley at the Garden Party at Hillsborough.Photo John Harrison.

THE Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were Guests of Honour at a Garden Party in Hillsborough hosted by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on Tuesday.

Over 2000 guests, including the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor James Tinsley and his wife Margaret, enjoyed the summer afternoon in thegrounds of Hillsborough Castle. The royal couple were greeted on their arrival by Mr William Hall, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down and were accompanied during their visit by Mr Woodward and his wife Camilla.

Among those they were introduced to were the First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley and his wife Baroness Paisley.

In the Rose Garden they met Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the PSNI, and a number of police officers and their guests. They then went on to meet Brigadier George Norton, Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade who presented a number of service personnel currently serving in Northern Ireland and their guests.

The band of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service played the National Anthem marking the arrival of the royal couple in the main garden and the Secretary of State invited them to plant a Bhutan Pine tree to commemorate the visit.

George Harkness, General Manager of Hillsborough Castle assisted with the tree planting.