Prince Charles is joined by Camilla for the second day of Northern Ireland visit

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Prince Charles leaves Loughgall to beat of Lambeg drum

Prince Charles is being joined by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, for the second day of his Northern Ireland visit.

The Prince of Wales began the day by meeting the first and deputy-first ministers at Hillsborough Castle.

Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness met the prince separately for briefings on local political and economic developments.

Later, Charles and Camilla will make a number of visits to local businesses.

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The first minister arrives for her briefing with Prince Charles

Later, the royal couple will host a musical evening at the castle.

There will be traditional music and some local refreshments in this Northern Irish Year of Food and Drink.

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Prince Charles greets Martin McGuinness at Hillsborough Castle

Charles also visited the Portico Centre in Portaferry County Down on Tuesday.

The centre is a former Presbyterian church that has been transformed to an arts and heritage centre at a cost of £1.5m.

Members of the local GAA club presented the prince with a hurley.

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Prince Charles visited the Portico Centre in Portaferry in County Down on Tuesday
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Prince Charles gets to grips with a hurling stick
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He met a number of schoolchildren during his visit
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Charles has a number of scheduled appointments

From Portaferry it was on to Portadown, where Charles and Camilla took part in an impromptu town centre walkabout.

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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visitted the Yellow Door Patisserie

They took time to shake hands with a small crowd of wellwishers before visiting the Yellow Door Patisserie, and travelling to the head office of Ulster Carpets.

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Prince Charles admiring the lambeg drum
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Duchess of Cornwall trying a tipple at Armagh Cider Company

The couple also visited Loughgall, County Armagh - taking in a trip to the Orange Order's heritage museum at Sloan House.

Donegal visit

On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla will visit County Donegal.

The visit to the Republic of Ireland is at the request of the government, and follows the couple's trip to the country last year.