The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, this morning attended the Service of Reflection and Hope to mark the Centenary of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland at St Patrick’s Cathedral, in Armagh.

HM The Queen was due to attend the service, however HM was advised not to travel following medical advice. The Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, the Earl of Caledon, KCVO, represented HM The Queen.

The service was also attended by HM's other Northern Irish Lord-Lieutenants, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnston, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr Brandon Lewis, and many others.

This morning the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, joined Fort Hill Integrated Primary School, in Lisburn, to plant the tree gifted to Lisburn by Her Majesty The Queen. As part of next year's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, which will celebrate Her Majesty having been on the throne for 70 years, The Queen's Green Canopy has been created to "plant a tree for the Jubilee". This included Her Majesty gifting a tree to each City in the U.K. 

The event was also attended by Queen's Green Canopy Ambassador, Lady Mary Peters, LG, CH, DBE and The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh Council.

The Lord-Lieutenant was joined by his Lord-Lieutenant Cadet, Cadet Company Sgt Major Ciara McKay of 1st (NI) Bn ACF.

​We would encourage you to get involved with this great initiative either at home or in your local community. To find out more about the Queen's Green Canopy, please click here or visit their website: https://queensgreencanopy.org/

This afternoon HRH The Duke of Gloucester invested the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, KStJ, as Knight Commander of the Commandery of Ards in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. The Commandery of Ards overseas the work of the Order of St John in Northern Ireland, the Order is best known here through the work of St John Ambulance NI. 

The Lord-Lieutenant succeeds The Right Honourable The Viscount Brookeborough, KG, KStJ, as Knight Commander. Lord Brookeborough is Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh.

Following the Installation, HRH undertook a Commandery of Ards Investiture, recognising the contribution of the inspiring St John NI volunteers. Many congratulations to all the postulants, which included the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle, CBE, who was invested as a Dame of the Order of St John.

HRH was received at St Anne's Cathedral by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast Sir Nigel Hamilton, KCB, DL  and the Dean of ​Belfast, The Very Reverend Stephen Forde.

Sincere thanks to the Order of St John Chancellor, Dr Gillian Willmore, GCStJ, the Prior of England and The Islands, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis, CBE, KStJ, DL, and Order Deputy Director of Ceremonies, Andrew Latham, KStJ, for coming over especially to attend and support the event.

Representatives from St John Ireland and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta also attended, along with The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lady Mary Peters, LG, CH, DBE, DStJ, and former Knight Commander of Ards, Sir William Hall, KCVO, KStJ,  amongst many others.