Higgins to make first UK state visit by Irish president

The first ever State visit by an Irish president to Britain will take place next April, when Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina, will be guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

It follows the positive response to the royal visit to Ireland in May 2011, when the monarch called for conciliation, the loosening of the knots of history, and for a relationship that is “close as good neighbours should always be”.

The visit next spring, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth, is expected to build on the political, economic and cultural ties between both countries which were boosted by her time in Ireland. Both President Higgins and Queen Elizabeth are expected to make short speeches at a State banquet hosted in his honour at Windsor Castle, on Apr 8, 2014.