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Christmas Message 2023

The heraldic arms of the office of Lord-Lieutenant, showing the Crown of King Charles III

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, His Majesty’s personal representative for the County has released a Christmas message : 

“After last year’s Platinum Jubilee and the change of Monarch, I felt it would be hard for this year to ever match 2022 for the number of engagements, but I was wrong! It has been another historic year as we celebrated the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla and I was deeply honoured to be able to represent the County at the Coronation. 

Following the Coronation, Their Majesties trip to Northern Ireland in May, and in particular their visit to Hazelbank Park to open the Coronation Garden, so beautifully designed by Diarmuid Gavin, will long live in the memory. 

I would like to thank all of our Councils: Antrim & Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast & Glens, Lisburn & Castlereagh and Mid & East Antrim for all that they did to coordinate so many of memorable events to mark the Coronation. 

Below I wanted highlight a few of the varied achievements of the Lieutenancy during 2023 and I take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to all of the Antrim Lieutenancy, and to my Lord-Lieutenant Cadets, for their support, much of which takes place behind the scenes:

  • HM The King’s Coronation
  • The Queen’s Green Canopy Coronation Tree for the County planted in the Coronation Garden, Hazelbank Park
  • 3 Royal Visits to Co. Antrim: Princess Royal in Ballycastle (June), Duke of Gloucester to Lisburn (Oct) and, of course, the historic visit to open the Coronation Garden by TM The King and Queen (May).
  • LL received President Biden at Aldergrove in April 
  • 3 new DLs; welcome to Iain, Kathryn & Pauline
  • ANBC hosted Lieutenancy tour of Coronation Garden and lunch
  • First Lieutenancy visit to Monkstown
  • Events held throughout the County to mark the Coronation, including Coronation Beacon Lighting Ceremonies
  • Special visit to Carrickfergus from the US Army Rangers
  • KAVS awards awarded
  • A County winner of the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE)
  • Armed Forces Day NI held in Larne, including Royal Gun Salute
  • LL carried out two Citizenship Ceremonies 
  • 45 honours awarded to people in Co. Antrim
  • 1 OBE and 19 BEMs presented by the LL at Hillsborough Castle
  • Co. Antrim attendees at Buckingham Palace & Hillsborough Castle Garden Parties; and the Princess of Wales’s Carol Service
  • 20 Remembrance events attended
  • 41 100th Birthdays and one 105th Birthday
  • Wedding Anniversaries: eight Diamond, two 65th, one Platinum and one 71st
  • Growing online presence on Twitter and Instagram and a new website in the pipeline 

​In closing, on behalf of HM The King, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of the selfless healthcare workers and emergency services personnel who have kept us safe this year and who will be working over Christmas and New Year. To all the volunteers, charities and local business who have done their bit to help others, I remain inspired by your selflessness and commitment to your communities and I thank you.

I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.

God Save The King, Long Live The King”

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