President Catherine Connolly in private meeting with King Charles

Irish President Catherine Connolly with her husband Brian McEnery, during a visit to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, at the start of her four-day visit to Scotland. Picture: Steve Welsh/PA Wire

President Catherine Connolly has met privately with Britain's King Charles, as she continues her four-day visit to Scotland.

The meeting took place on Wednesday at a private event in Dumfries House, the headquarters of The King's Foundation, a nature protection and sustainability charity.

It is understood the event was centred around farming and sustainability, with Ms Connolly having been seated alongside the king at the dinner. 

A number of other guests were in attendance.

Ms Connolly previously met with King Charles in Buckingham Palace during a visit to London earlier this year.

This week, Ms Connolly met with Scottish first minister John Swinney, with Irish and Scottish unity up for discussion.

Mr Swinney said he updated Ms Connolly on the memorandum of understanding signed between the Scottish National Party, Sinn Féin, and Plaid Cymru, which called for the British government to “prepare” for constitutional change.

Mr Swinney was asked about criticisms made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the meeting, who said the summit may “set back” Irish unity through the alignment of nationalist leaders in Scotland and Wales.

“Fundamentally, the issues around the debates in relation to the future of Ireland are entirely a matter for the people of Ireland,” Mr Swinney said.

“But within that debate is an important principle, which is the principal of self-determination.” 

Mr Swinney said this principle is at the heart of Scotland’s case for independence, adding that there must be an “opportunity and option” to self-determination.

“That’s an essential point of common ground between Scotland and the debate that’s taking place in Ireland around the right of the people of Ireland to decide their own future,” Mr Swinney said.

The Scottish first minister also took aim at British prime minister Andy Burnham over his comments about a border poll being off the table.

“I thought it demonstrated a terrible ignorance of the Good Friday Agreement and the ability of the people in the North of Ireland, should they choose to do so, to be able to proceed to have a border poll,” Mr Swinney said.

President Catherine Connolly with first minister of Scotland John Swinney at Bute House in Edinburgh. Picture: Tony Maxwell/PA Wire

A spokesperson for Ms Connolly confirmed discussions included talks on “self-determination and independence”, alongside the impact of Brexit on Scotland, and risks of unregulated growth of AI.

During her time in Edinburgh, Ms Connolly was given a private tour of the National Library of Scotland archives, which features manuscripts dating back 800 years.

She viewed the final letter of Mary, Queen of Scots, written in the hours before her execution in 1587.

The President also received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), the country’s lead society for science and letters.

Speaking after the ceremony, Ms Connolly said the RSE’s message of ‘learning for learning’s sake’ was “vitally important”.

Two previous Irish presidents, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, have received the same honour from the society.