Irish President Michael D Higgins begins an official state visit to Britain today with the head of state heralding a new era of relations between the two countries.

Northern Ireland deputy first minister and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness has heaped praise on the Queen for taking a leadership role in the peace process.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today welcomed the decision by Martin McGuinness to a state banquet with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, saying that people had to “move on and not be blocked by the past”.

President Michael D Higgins’s historic state visit to Britain will take relations between the two nations to a new level, the foreign office has said.

“That huge rivalry we have with England will still be there in 50 years’ time. It’s something we have built into us as Irish people and it’s important to try to use that to our advantage this weekend.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH last night offered her “sincere thoughts and deep sympathies” to those who have suffered due to the troubled past of Britain and Ireland — but stopped short of an apology.

BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to visit the Rock of Cashel, and the Irish National Stud and confirmation of her intention to visit Cork will provide a welcome boost for some of the country’s most celebrated tourist attractions.