Charles and Camilla 'promise to visit'

Prince Charles is planning to bring his new wife to Northern Ireland, it emerged today.

On their first royal engagement since getting married they told a couple from Newtownards, Co Down of plans to cross the Irish Sea.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall took time out from their honeymoon to open a play park at Monaltrie Park in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

William McAteer and his wife Nan, who are holidaying in Scotland, were among the cheering crowds who met the royals.

Later Mr McAteer said: “I asked them if they had considered coming to Northern Ireland and they said they will definitely go there.

“I said to Camilla: ’We are from Northern Ireland and we’d love to see you there.’

“I joked that if Camilla came, she would have to bring Charles. She was so down-to-earth and the ring she is wearing is absolutely lovely.”

The royal couple will be known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.

As Charles looked on, Camilla performed her first official public duty as a royal, cutting a tartan ribbon to officially open the play park using a pair of gold-plated scissors ordered for the occasion from a London jeweller.