LIVE: British monarchy extend lavish welcome for President

By Shaun Connolly, Political Correspondent, Windsor

A lavish royal welcome is being extended to President Michael D Higgins as he begins a landmark four-day state visit to Britain.

The full pomp and pageantry of the British monarchy was laid on for the president and Sabina Higgins as they were welcomed at Windsor Castle with a spectacular parade featuring 850 soldiers and 275 horses.

The first ever state visit by an Irish president has received generous British media attention as both governments try to reinforce the message it represents a new era of “normalisation” of relations between the two countries.

On arrival at the Castle, President Higgins inspected an honour guard of the Grenadier Guards after a 21-gun salute and Amhrán na bhFiann reverberated around the quadrangle of the 900-year-old royal residence.

After lunch, Queen Elizabeth II, who wore a green paisley outfit and an orchid brooch featuring Waterford crystal, showed the president items of Irish interest from the royal collection in the Green Room at the castle.

These included a book of poems presented by Oscar Wilde to the then prince of Wales, later Edward VII, in 1881, and a lace fan made in Youghal, Cork, which was given to Queen Mary for wedding in 1893.

The president then travelled to London to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey, before addressing members of both houses of the British parliament in the Palace of Westminster.

The day climaxes with a set-piece, state banquet later tonight at which the Queen and President will speak.

Among those attending the banquet are deputy Northern first minister Martin McGuinness and Taoiseach Enda Kenny, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron.