King Charles and Queen Camilla Try to Keep a Straight Face as They Sip Whiskey Shots in Northern Ireland

King Charles and Queen Camilla are knocking one back during a surprise trip to Northern Ireland.

On March 19, the King and Queen stepped out in Belfast for what Buckingham Palace described as "their annual visit to Northern Ireland." King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, were in sync as they undertook a series of engagements at Commercial Court in the heart of the city, highlighted by a whiskey tasting at a bar.

The British royals are known to immerse themselves in the best of local culture and cuisine during official trips, and the royal couple did just that by sampling a spirit at The Friend at Hand. As seen in a video shared on X by royal reporter Rebecca English, the King and Queen clinked their drinks together before sipping it down in one go. Both then went silent for a second as they processed the whiskey shot, making those gathered laugh. 

"Very good," King Charles said after festively raising his glass.

"Very good," repeated the Queen, who slid her glass back across the bar. "Delicious, thank you."

The royal couple was hosted by Willie Jack, a 40-year veteran of Belfast's hospitality industry who received an MBE in 2023 for his services to Arts and Tourism in Northern Ireland. Jack and his wife, Joanne, helped revamp what was formerly a run-down area by teaming up with neighboring businesses to create a thriving community and hotspot for locals and tourists alike.

King Charles and Queen Camilla seemed in good spirits as they toured more of the city. They posed for a photo below colorful umbrellas in a cobbled alleyway with red benches recognized as Belfast's "most beautiful street" in 2022 and listened to a local band.

The Queen clapped to the music in a montage shared by the royal family's social media team, and they both spoke to representatives from tourism, hospitality and the arts, including the creator of the famous rainbow umbrellas. 

Cameras caught a cute moment when the Queen pinned a daffodil from a bouquet she was handed to her husband's lapel. Charles and Camilla will celebrate 20 years of marriage on April 9 and be abroad for their anniversary, as it overlaps with their upcoming trip to the Vatican and Italy. 

From there, they stopped in Sea Holly Gallery to see art on display — including a dramatic reenactment of one portrait by the people in it! The King and Queen appeared to be amazed by performers Mr H and Igor, who struck a gravity-defying pose before their picture.

The Sea Holly Gallery was launched in 2019 to support and promote local artists from across Northern Ireland. The space features a collection of cross-generational paintings of local professionals and community members who make Belfast a diverse place to be. 

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King Charles and Queen Camilla then parted ways for separate engagements: the King to the Newforge Sports Complex and Event Hub and the Queen to the Atlas (Adult Training Learning and Support) Women’s Centre. The couple is known to divide their time during work trips in order to meet the maximum number of people possible and hit the ground with that strategy. 

The King heard about the Police Service of Northern Ireland's work at Newforge to foster community development through the advancement of sports for all, while the Queen headed to a community center that provides support to women navigating various challenges. Atlas is especially dedicated to helping those living with domestic abuse, which is one of Camilla's longtime causes and a cornerstone of her royal work.