Prince Charles drew Irish viewers to Sky News last week, according to the broadcaster. It says its live coverage of his "emotional trip" to Ireland, including a visit to the site of his great-uncle's murder in Mullaghmore and a handshake with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, lifted its typical Tuesday and Wednesday viewership in Ireland by 148 per cent.

The Sky News website, meanwhile, has garnered about 412,000 unique users from Ireland so far this May, a month in which news traffic was also buoyed by the UK general election and another royal story, the birth of the prince's granddaughter Charlotte, which Sky covered with unparalleled enthusiasm and emotion.

Some 470,000 Irish customers have downloaded the Sky News app to date, according to Sky.

The broadcaster is understood to be stepping up its digital ambitions. Earlier this year, it was reported that Sky News plans to integrate its digital and television operations in a “fundamental transformation” of its newsroom that will see it put more emphasis on online coverage.