Simon Coveney reveals how Queen Elizabeth II ditched security protocols at Cork visit

Fine Gael minister Simon Coveney said Queen Elizabeth's State visit "started with such formality in Dublin but finished with such warmth in Cork”.

“I think she has kind of come to terms with the visit and she made a point of crossing the road and actually shaking hands with the public as opposed to being managed in terms of every person that she met.” Photo: Maxwells/PA 

Queen Elizabeth II’s time in Cork was the “undoubted highlight” of the entire historic State visit to Ireland in 2011 as she was able to be totally relaxed when there.

It can be revealed that she dramatically dismissed security concerns to meet members of the Cork public during her State visit to Ireland in 2011.