The King is expected to make an official state visit to Ireland
next year after Irish President Catherine Connolly revealed she had
invited the monarch during a meeting at Buckingham Palace.
Speaking following the audience on Monday, President Connolly
said the King had “graciously accepted” her invitation, although
Buckingham Palace has not officially confirmed any future state
visit.
The meeting formed part of Connolly’s three-day visit to the UK
and marked her first official trip to Britain since becoming
president last year.
“I think the highlight really was the invitation that I extended
him as the 10th president of Ireland to make a State visit to
Ireland, and he graciously accepted that,” Connolly told reporters
afterwards.
“So, the details will emerge in due course between the two
governments.”
If confirmed, the visit would become the King’s first official
state visit to Ireland as monarch, although he travelled to the
country frequently during his time as Prince of Wales.
Connolly said she believed the visit would further strengthen
relations between Britain and Ireland.
“I am sure that he will receive the warmest of welcomes and this
will represent a further deepening of our relationship as
neighbours and as friends,” she said.
The president also revealed the pair discussed climate change
and environmental issues during their Buckingham Palace meeting —
topics that have long been closely associated with the King.
The proposed visit would carry considerable historic
significance.
The last reigning British monarch to undertake a state visit to
Ireland was Elizabeth II in 2011, in what became a landmark moment
in modern Anglo-Irish relations.
