The BBC reports confirmation from Buckingham Palace that Queen Elizabeth II has accepted the invitation from Irish President, Mary McAleese, to visit Ireland later this year. Despite the objections from some…
The iol report has the quotes from President McAleese
In a statement, the office of President Mary McAleese said the timing of the visit would be confirmed at a later date.“President McAleese is pleased to announce that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has accepted an invitation to visit Ireland this year,” it said.
“The dates of the visit and the programme will be announced jointly by Aras an Uachtarain and Buckingham Palace in due course.”
DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson welcomed the announcement, saying the visit would take place in May.
The Irish government welcomed the trip which it said would “further improve” the “very good” relations between the two countries.
The British ambassador to Dublin, Julian King, said the invitation symbolised how far the relationship between the two neighbouring countries had come.
“The UK’s relationship with Ireland has never been closer, or more important,” he said.
“Our common bonds enable the UK and Ireland to work together as a strong, modern, forward-looking partnership focussed on issues that matter to the British and Irish people, such as growth and jobs.”
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