
Hillsborough Castle in County Down is a mansion
in Northern Ireland. It is the official residence of Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland, but
the regular occupant is the Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland. It is also used by other members of the British Royal
Family when they visit the Province, and by prominent international
visitors. It has been an official royal residence since the
1920s.
It is also the residence of the British monarch's
official representative in Northern Ireland. From 1921 to
1972 the official representative of the sovereign was the
Governor of Northern Ireland. That post was abolished in 1973.
Since 1973 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the
British cabinet Minister for Northern Ireland, has also served
as the Queen's representative, and as such he or she resides
in Hillsborough Castle.

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