Queen's visit shows 'friendship' between Ireland and the UK

The first State visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch is to made by the Queen Elizabeth II later this year.

The historic announcement by Buckingham Palace is a hugely significant moment in the increasingly close relationship between Britain and Ireland.

Julian King, Britain’s Ambassador to Ireland, said the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were very much looking forward to the visit.

He added: “The invitation symbolises how far the relationship has come in recent years; the strength of our economic and political ties; and the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland.

“The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this, and build on the rich and varied links that exist across these islands.”

A date for the trip has not been released but it is widely expected to be in May a few weeks after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Bobby McDonagh, Ireland’s Ambassador to London, who delivered the Queen’s invitation on behalf of President Mary McAleese, said: “The visit reflects the depth and the warmth of the British Irish relationship and the extent to which it has developed in recent years.

“The friendship between our two islands and between our peoples has never been closer politically, economically or culturally.

“The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved, notably the successful and sustained peace in Northern Ireland which has been made possible by the close partnership between the British and Irish Governments.”

The Queen’s grandfather George V was the last monarch to set foot on Irish soil when he visited in 1911.

His tour came ten years before the country was partitioned creating Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The bitterness caused by the move and the use of the British Army in the Troubles in the North, strained relations on both sides of the Irish sea for much of the 20th century.

The Queen also suffered her own personal loss when her cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb blast on his boat in Ireland in 1979.

But the success of the peace process in the North has greatly eased tensions between the two nations and ultimately led to the visit being able to take place.

Britain’s close ties with the Republic of Ireland saw it contribute an estimated £7bn to the bailout package for the country’s economy following the spectacular collapse of the ’Celtic Tiger’ during the downturn.

Rumours of the visit have been circulating for more than a year with the official announcement widely anticipated.

But it has drawn criticism from Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams who said his party believed the visit was premature, but claimed it was an indication of a changed time.

He said: “As Republicans Sinn Féin is very aware of the symbolism of a state visit by Queen Elizabeth of England and of the offence it will cause to many Irish citizens, particularly victims of British rule and those with legacy issues in this state and in the North.”

But Mr Adams said the party was in favour of the normalisation of relationships between Ireland and the UK.

“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.

“The Good Friday Agreement provides for this and the process to achieve it is an ongoing focus for Sinn Féin.”