Toddler in a tux upstages Queen on her visit to Belfast bakery
THE Queen described a photobombing toddler as a “natural” in front of the cameras, as he proved the unexpected star of the show at a royal visit.
Fitzwilliam Corrie-salmon, who is almost two, took a shine to the TV cameras that accompanied the Queen on her visit to a bakery in Belfast, posing in front of her.
“We have got a natural for the cameras,” the Queen said, watching him in amusement. Asking how old he was and joking that he would be “kept in order” by others in the family business, she smiled indulgently as he strutted about.
The little boy had chosen a mini tuxedo as his outfit for the visit to Knotts Bakery by the Queen.
His parents William Corrie, coowner of the bakery, and Zoe Salmon, a former Miss Northern Ireland and Blue Peter presenter, were on hand to give the Queen a tour of the shop, introducing them to members of staff and sending her home with a bag full of fruit loaf and iced madeira cake.
Mr Corrie said the Queen was “great” with Fitz, adding: “We’ve got quite the story for him when he’s older.”
The Queen said the King, who is having cancer treatment, was “doing very well” and was “disappointed” he was not on the trip.
After the King was compelled to stay at home, she decided to continue with elements of her own programme for the engagement.
That began yesterday with a visit to Lisburn Road to see three family businesses: a butcher, a baker and a delicatessen.
She came away with bags full of local produce, promising she would take them home for the King – after enjoying a snack herself.
Responding to quips about men “not being the best patients”, the Queen said: “I try to keep him in order.”
At Coffey’s Butchers, established in 1929, she met some of the three generations of the family who run it, remarking: “My gosh there are a lot of you!” Inspecting the meat counter, she said: “My goodness me what a great selection” and asked: “All of these are locally sourced?”
“It’s wonderful, it’s all very tempting. It’s lovely to see you thriving,” she added.
After being given a bag of Northern Irish specialities including vegetable rolls, beef sausages and Belfast pickle, she said: “I shall take these back to my husband, he will really make the most of them.”
At the next shop, Arcadia, a delicatessen that opened in 1933, she was also given a selection of their charcuterie, cheese, and local meats including Irish black butter.
The owner, Laura Graham-brown, said the Queen had been particularly interested in the social aspect of the shop, which is seen as a link to the community.
“We had a discussion about the impact of local independent retail in the context of loneliness and social interaction,” she said.
“We know our customers and their families and lives. She was very interested in that.”
Outside the bakery, she was given an envelope of cards made for the King by the children of Fane Street Primary School, with 11-year-old Amaya handing them over to a smiling Queen.
A small crowd had gathered to see the visiting member of the Royal family, despite the trip not being announced in advance. The Queen spoke and shook hands with all of them, crossing the road to do so before departing for her next engagement.
Among them was Anne-marie Wallace and her 12-year-old son Oscar Dalzell, who has a collection of 15 letters from members of the Royal family he took to show her.
One recent letter, signed “with best wishes Camilla R”, thanks him for his latest letter and the “beautiful picture of a crown”.
The Queen told him it was “lovely to put a face to the name of a correspondent”, saying he writes “lovely letters”.
Later in the day, the Queen attended an event to celebrate Northern Ireland’s literary tradition on World Poetry Day at Hillsborough Castle, the monarch’s official residence.
Before the event, the Queen was introduced to political leaders including Chris Heaton-harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, First Minister Michelle O’neill and Emma Little-pengelly, the DUP Deputy First Minister.
It was the first time the Northern Irish leaders had met a member of the Royal family in their new roles.