@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.

He got his MS in sociology at Indiana University. His recollections: ;)
President elect Michael D Higgins smoked weed at Indiana University | Irish News | IrishCentral

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/2013/1118/487...ael-d-higgins/

From the Office of the President

http://www.president.ie/uncategorize...ael-d-higgins/

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.

Making the news!

President Higgins to make historic first UK visit - Independent.ie

President Higgins to make historic first UK visit - Independent.ie

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?

That visit is not confirmed yet.

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.

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.