Duke Of Edinburgh Celebrates Hilton Birthday

The Duke of Edinburgh, on the second engagement of a one-day visit to Northern Ireland, was this afternoon the guest of honour at a lunch at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast.

The event was for Friends of The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, as well as to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Hilton.

It was officially opened by the Queen's husband in November 1998. At the time Hilton Hotels was one of the first international hotel chains to invest in Northern Ireland.

Today, on his arrival, HRH was greeted by Lady Carswell, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and went on to meet Francis McCoubrey, Sheriff for the County Borough of Belfast, Colonel Garth Corbett, Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, and Mark Walker, Area General Manager, Hilton Northern Ireland.

At lunch 60 guests from Hilton Northern Ireland, Friends of The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and local business representatives joined the royal visitor.

During the reception HRH heard details of Hilton Northern Ireland local charity 'Giveaway' initiative which will see £10,000 distributed to local charities as part of its anniversary celebrations.

Earlier today, the Duke met the 2009 recipients of the Duke Of Edinburgh Gold Award at a special ceremony in Hillsborough Castle.

His Royal Highness met two groups of around 78 Gold Award recipients and their guests in the Drawing Room and Throne Room.

His Royal Highness last visited Northern Ireland in May last year to attend a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards presentation and was Guest of Honour at a lunch in support of the John Thompson Trust.

Last month, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall spent time in Glenarm, Ballyclare and Belfast during a one-day visit.

(BMcC/JM)