Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is to visit the set of ‘Game of Thrones’.
The 88-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip are making a three-day visit to Northern Ireland next week, and part of their agenda includes a trip to the Belfast studios where the popular HBO drama series is filmed.
The show is estimated to be the biggest TV production in Europe and has brought over 900 full-time and 5,700 part-time jobs to the region, and has brought a direct economic benefit of £82 million to Northern Ireland.
As well as the set visit, the couple will also pop in on another TV show, ‘Antiques Road Show’, as their official Northern Irish residence, Hillsborough Castle, is playing host to experts and crew from the programme next week.
The queen and Philip’s schedule also includes a visit to the historic Crumlin Road Gaol to see how the prison has been transformed into a popular tourist attraction, and a reception and lunch at Belfast City Hall.
The queen – who last visited Northern Ireland in 2012 – will also attend a Royal British Legion reception in Coleraine in Co. Londonderry to launch a programme of activities commemorating the First World War.
The trip will be the royal couple’s 21st to the region.