State Visit from the President of the Republic of Ireland: April 8-10, 2014


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Lumutqueen

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@HRHDuchesskate: President Michael D. Higgins will become the first Irish Head of State to make a state visit to Britain in April 2014.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24981123

President Michael D Higgins is to become the first Irish head of state to make an official state visit to the UK.

The president and his wife Sabina have accepted an invitation from the Queen to stay at Windsor Castle for a three-day visit in April.

Although the official programme is yet to be finalised it is expected that Mr and Mrs Higgins will stay at Windsor Castle from 8 April to 10 April.

The president is expected to include official visits to the prime minister at Downing Street as well as to the leader of the Opposition.

In line with other state visits it is likely the Lord Mayor of the City of London will host a banquet for the President and it is also expected that the Queen will host a State banquet.

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Personal note - potentially state visit on my 21st birthday!!!!!!
 
Wow, another State event to look forward to.
 
Hopefully the hard working senior royals will be less glum. Mrs. Higgins will be properly dressed.
 
Hopefully the hard working senior royals will be less glum. Mrs. Higgins will be properly dressed.

Depends upon your interpretation of glum and properly dressed, frankly there was no need for such a comment.
 
Not to forget the political importance of such a visit! The relations between the UK and Ireland have been very tense for ages. It it so good to see that improve. This SV will be really, really important.
 
Just heard it on the news,its a historic visit,part of me wishes it was President Mary Robinson or President Mary McAleese who did so much of the groundwork for the State Visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

President Higgins is a popular President but less robust than he 2 predecessors,we don't see as much of him as we did with the 2 Mary's.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1118/487333-michael-d-higgins/

From the Office of the President

http://www.president.ie/uncategorized/state-visit-to-the-united-kingdom-by-president-michael-d-higgins/
 
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State Visit

William Ralph Inge, a rather pessimistic Anglican priest who was Professor of Divinity at Cambridge in the early 1900's, said that 'a nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours.'
Let's hope and pray that this visit helps to cement the improving relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland - I'm sure that President Higgins will do a fantastic job, but what a pity that it's not President Mary McAleese who will be meeting with The Queen.
 
I'm hoping the Cambridge's will be able to attend this historic State event.
 
:previous: Since this is a very, very, very important State Visit, you may well get your wish. I personally would opt for "the gang's all here".
 
But won't they be on their tour of Australia and New Zealand then? Or is the state visit before they leave?
 
I wonder with Kate getting the first tiara event out of the way with the diplomatic reception. That it may be more likely that the Cambridge attend the state dinner for this visit. Maybe the press would focus more on the historical significant of the visit instead of look at Kate in a tiara.
 
I wonder with Kate getting the first tiara event out of the way with the diplomatic reception. That it may be more likely that the Cambridge attend the state dinner for this visit. Maybe the press would focus more on the historical significant of the visit instead of look at Kate in a tiara.
I agree that the chance that the Cambridges will attend this important state visit has grown considerably overnight (so to speak). Also I would say that the press reaction will be divided in the serious press concentrating on the political dimensions of the visit. But there is no chance that the tabloids will place politics and history above the glamour of a beautiful young Duchess. That’s just the way it is in this world.
 
I agree that the chance that the Cambridges will attend this important state visit has grown considerably overnight (so to speak). Also I would say that the press reaction will be divided in the serious press concentrating on the political dimensions of the visit. But there is no chance that the tabloids will place politics and history above the glamour of a beautiful young Duchess. That’s just the way it is in this world.

Given the importance and significance of the upcoming state visit from Ireland, I really don't think the Cambridges will be in attendance but more so the focus on Charles and Camilla attending with the Queen and DoE at this event (if they are, I don't know at this point).

I do think that the BRF is very well aware of the popularity of the Cambridges and the frenzy that surrounds whatever Kate wears and would probably prefer the media coverage focus on the relations between the UK and Ireland rather than Kate's hair (or whatever else the media would focus on). There'll be ample time in the future for them to attend state banquets. I just don' think this is going to be one of them.
 
If Catherine and William don't attend potentially the most significant state visit ever, it won't just be us guys that will be disappointed. William is the future King and to snub an affair such as this wouldn't go down well.

Unless they're out of the country, and it was pre planned before this announcement, then there is no reason for them not to attend other than illness or death IMO. I don't wish to be morbid of course.

As for the press focusing on the event, the right press/newspapers will focus on the event. The DailyMail, The Sun aka "the rags" will forever and always focus on clothes, shoes and jewellery. Where did the pictures and the news come from about Catherine's tiara appearance last night? Rebecca English as the DM. No reputable news outlet bothered with last night event because there was nothing to report.
 
Well we know that the Cambridges won't be attending the state dinner since they will be in New Zealand at the time.
 
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Details of the State Visit will be made known tomorrow as per RTE News,I read that the President & his wife will be staying at Windsor Castle.
 
I spot the Duke of Kent as well. Thanks for the link iceflower. :)
 
We have an itinerary!

Monday 7 April

The President and Sabina Higgins will depart from Áras an Uachtaráin in the late afternoon. Military honours will be rendered at the Áras prior to departure. On their arrival at Heathrow, the President and Mrs Higgins will be met by the Ambassador of Ireland, Mr Dan Mulhall and the Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting to Her Majesty The Queen.

Tuesday 8th April

On Tuesday morning, the President and Sabina Higgins will be met by HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at the Irish Embassy in London, after which they will depart together for Windsor.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will formally greet the President and Sabina at the Royal Dais, Datchet Road, Windsor after which they will travel together by horse-drawn carriage for a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle. In the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, the President, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will inspect the Guard of Honour. As part of the formal welcome, the Guard of Honour will give the Royal Salute, and the band will play the Irish and British National Anthems.

After a private lunch hosted by The Queen at Windsor Castle, Her Majesty will invite the President and Sabina to view Irish related items from the Royal Collection. Afterwards they will depart for London and visit Westminster Abbey, where they will be received by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, the Dean of Westminster. Prior to commencing a tour of the Abbey, the President will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

Later in the afternoon, the President will visit the Palace of Westminster, where he will be met by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr John Bercow, MP and the Lord Speaker, the Baroness D’Souza. The President will then deliver an address to both Houses and afterwards will attend a reception with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

In the evening, the President will receive a courtesy call from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Ed Miliband MP at Windsor Castle.

Later in the evening, the President and Sabina are guests of honour at a State Banquet hosted by The Queen at Windsor Castle. The Queen and the President will both make a short address at this Banquet.

Wednesday 9th April

On Wednesday morning, the President and Sabina will be escorted by HRH, Prince Andrew, The Duke of York to the Grand Stairs in Windsor Castle to view the Colours of the disbanded Irish Regiments. These colours have been at the Castle since 1922.

The President and Sabina will then visit University College London Hospital on Euston Road where they will be greeted by The Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, UK Department of Health. The President and Sabina will meet patients and some Irish staff members, past and present, who have made such an important contribution to the National Health Service.

Later in the morning, the President will visit the Royal Society where he will view an exhibition of items related to Ireland and make an address on the importance of scientific and technological cooperation between Ireland and Britain.

The President will then travel to 10 Downing Street for a meeting at a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Cameron.

While the President is visiting the Royal Society and Downing Street, Sabina Higgins will undertake a separate programme which comprises a visit to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and she will attend a lunch at the Irish Embassy focusing on the theme of Irish fashion and design.

In the afternoon, the President and Sabina will attend a Youth Workshop at City Hall, titled “Taking Charge of Change Together”. It will involve young people from Ireland and the UK who participate in Gaisce – The President’s Award/The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards; the President’s ‘Being Young and Irish’ initiative; the British Youth Council; and Irish community groups in Britain. The President will be greeted on arrival at City Hall by the Mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson. After being briefed by representatives of the young people on the content of their Workshop, the President will make an address.

Later in the evening the President will receive a courtesy call by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Nick Clegg, MP, at Buckingham Palace.

Afterwards the President and Sabina will attend a Banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Fiona Woolf, and the City of London Corporation at the Guildhall. The Queen will be represented at the Banquet by the HRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. After dinner, the President will address the 700 invited guests.

Thursday 10th April

On Thursday morning, the President and Sabina depart Windsor Castle for a visit to the Food Animal Initiative (FAI) Farms, Oxford. They will be met by a party which includes Mr Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia (Irish Food Board). They will be briefed on the farm’s sustainability initiatives and the Bord Bia ‘Origin Green Programme’, which will also be profiled at this event.

The President and Sabina will then visit Park House Stables, Kingsclere where they will be received by Mr Andrew and Mrs Anna-Lisa Balding. Reflecting the strong links between Ireland and Britain in the equine world, they will meet with trainers, jockeys and other staff at the stables and will also visit the tack room, the yard and the training areas.

In the early evening, the President and Sabina will attend a Northern Ireland themed reception hosted by The Queen at Windsor Castle.

Later on Thursday evening, the President and Sabina will attend ‘Ceiliúradh’ at the Royal Albert Hall. The HRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent will represent the Queen at this celebration of music, song, dance and poetry.

Friday 11th April

On Friday morning the President and Sabina will bid farewell to The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. Later that morning they will visit the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. Following a tour of the building, they will watch a short performance, the President will make a brief address and meet the actors and other members of the creative team. Afterwards, they will visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace.

In the afternoon, the President and Sabina will visit Coventry Cathedral and take a tour of the ruins of the old Cathedral, which was destroyed in World War II. They will also meet with Denominational Representatives in the Chapel of Unity. They will then move to the nearby St Mary’s Guildhall, where they will be greeted by Councillor Gary Crookes, The Lord Mayor of Coventry and other local representatives. This final event of the State Visit will be a reception for members of the Irish community at the Guildhall, and will also include an address by the President.

Later that afternoon, after a final farewell by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of The Queen, the President and Sabina depart from Coventry for Dublin. On return to Baldonnel, military honours will be rendered.

State Visit to the United Kingdom | Áras an Uachtaráin

http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/StateVisitprogrammes/2014/IrishStateVisitprogramme.aspx
 
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It will be interesting to see what gets the most press coverage - this State Visit or the Cambridge's tour of New Zealand. I suspect the latter, particularly if George is on display at the time.
 
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