Charles retraces Queen’s footsteps with Rock of Cashel visit

The Prince of Wales followed in the Queen’s footsteps as he visited one of Ireland’s best-known sites on the final day of his tour of the island.

Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall took a trip to the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary on Friday.

Their visit to the Rock of Cashel comes just over a decade after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh went to the site.

The Queen and Philip took in the popular tourist attraction, which is also known as St Patrick’s Rock and was once the seat and symbol of the overkings of Munster, during the historic state visit in 2011.

Charles and Camilla posed in front of the stone cathedral ruins before being given a short history of the site, enjoying a performance by Cashel Community School choir and signing the guest book.

A short, specially-composed fanfare was played on the handmade instruments, reproduced using parts found in Anglesey in Wales and Roscrea in Tipperary.

Camilla wore a green pinafore dress and green crepe coat, in similar style to the Queen’s bright green outfit of 2011.

Earlier, the couple visited Cahir Farmers’ Market, meeting food producers and community groups from across the county.

Choir director John Murray said it was “poignant” to have Charles visit the same site as the Queen.

Mr Murray said: “It’s rare that you get to sing for two royals, so it is great to get to do that, and the visit is a great thing for Cashel. It’s quite poignant that his mother was here.”

They sang traditional Irish blessing May The Road Rise To Meet You, which had also been performed for the Queen.

As he walked towards Bru Boru cultural centre, Charles met and shook hands with cheering schoolchildren who lined the route.