Irish President Catherine Connolly has announced that King Charles III has "graciously accepted" her invitation for a state visit to Ireland, marking a significant step in Anglo-Irish relations. The announcement came after a meeting between the two leaders at Buckingham Palace on Monday, the first day of President Connolly's three-day official visit to England.
Meeting at Buckingham Palace
President Connolly and King Charles were pictured shaking hands and smiling for cameras at the palace. Describing the meeting, which lasted just under an hour, as "wonderful," Connolly said she extended an invitation for the King to pay a state visit to Ireland. This would be the second such visit by a British monarch to Ireland since independence, following the historic 2011 state visit by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Strengthening Neighbourly Ties
In a statement after the meeting, President Connolly said: "As President of Ireland, I was delighted to meet this afternoon with His Majesty King Charles, when I appreciated very much the warm welcome which he extended. King Charles knows Ireland well and has been a positive voice for peace and reconciliation." She added: "In our discussion, we were mindful of the unique relationship as close neighbours and our intertwined history, recalling the significant state visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland in 2011, as well as the state visit here of former president Higgins in 2014. I was very pleased therefore to extend an invitation to King Charles to pay his own state visit to Ireland. I am sure that he will receive the warmest of welcomes and this will represent a further deepening of our relationship as neighbours and as friends."
Engagements in London
Earlier on Monday, President Connolly visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she delivered an address and met participants in an Irish language class. In her speech, she highlighted the significant contributions of the Irish diaspora to British society. "The Irish contribution to British society is as diverse as can be imagined. From the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services. Indeed, there is hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life that has not been touched by the Irish here in Britain," she said. She also noted that historical and modern-day immigration from Ireland to Britain has been driven by economic factors, including a lack of housing.
Reactions from the Irish Community
Aengus Collins O'Malley, 49, who gives history lessons on Michael Collins at the Irish Cultural Centre, praised the president for "reaching out to the Irish diaspora." He said: "She is our head of state and she is an individual who is known for promoting the Irish language." Asked about Anglo-Irish relations, he remarked: "They are always great when the Tories are not in power." Oisin Moroney, 21, who performed an Irish dance for the president, said: "It was great for her to come here. I was grateful to be able to welcome her into the country." Larry O'Leary, 74, chairman of the Mayor of London's St Patrick's Festival Community Advisory Board, said: "I love the way she promotes the Irish language at every opportunity. She is not afraid to speak her mind."
Upcoming Engagements
The visit continues on Tuesday with the president attending the Chelsea Flower Show and visiting the London Irish Centre in Camden. On Wednesday, she will visit Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre, where she will be briefed on the work of the Irish Health Centre and meet representatives of other Irish centres in the region. This is the third official visit President Connolly has undertaken since her inauguration in November, following visits to Northern Ireland and Spain.
