One makes history: Queen to visit Ireland
The state visit, expected to take place in May, comes on foot of an invitation by President Mary McAleese.
Elizabeth will be following in the footsteps of her grandfather George V, who travelled to this country in 1911, before the 26 counties of Ireland achieved independence and formed a republic. But while the visit was welcomed by politicians, diplomats and business chiefs, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams called it “premature”.
Mr Adams said Sinn Féin respected the President’s right to invite the queen to Ireland, but hoped his party’s views would also be respected.
“This announcement is obviously an indication that we are living in changed and changing times,” Mr Adams said. “We are for the normalisation of relationships between the people of these islands, based upon mutual respect and equality. This will require the ending of the partition of Ireland and the ability of all the people of this island to shape our own society, free from outside interference.”
Meanwhile, the British Ambassador to Ireland Julian King said both the queen and her husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were very much looking forward to the visit, which although not formally announced, is expected in May, just a month after the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Mr King said the invitation symbolised how far the relationship between the two countries had come.
“The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this, and build on the rich and varied links that exist across these islands,” he said, adding that Britain’s relationship with Ireland has never been closer.
