Queen starts her visit to the North

QUEEN Elizabeth and Prince Philip will begin a two-day visit to the North today, despite the ongoing Brexit turmoil.

The couple will fly into Belfast this afternoon and will travel to Hillsborough Castle for audiences with the North’s Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Tomorrow, the Queen and Prince Philip will visit the Giant’s Causeway, before going to see Bushmills village and then taking a trip on a steam train.

A spokesperson for Tourism Northern Ireland confirmed the visit was still going ahead despite Friday’s shock Brexit decision.

Meanwhile, EU funding worth €820million used to help the peace process could be lost because of Brexit, it has emerged.

The Special EU Programmes Body, which is tasked with dispersing EU funds in Northern Ireland from 2014 to 2020, admitted it faces uncertainty about the future as a result of the unexpected Leave vote.

A spokesperson said: ‘The SEUPB is currently awaiting guidance from the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland on the implications of the recent referendum decision.’

Overall EU funding to the North is worth €3billion from 2014 to 2020, including research funding and payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy.