17/08/2009

Hopes Rise Of Queen's Irish Visit

A top British diplomat has said he is "very hopeful" a Royal visit to the Irish Republic by Queen Elizabeth will come to fruition soon.

Out-going UK ambassador to the Republic, David Reddaway said he expected the much-mooted trip to happen "before too long".

Speaking to the Irish Times Mr Reddaway said: "I hope it'll happen soon."

Speculation has continued to mount that the Queen will pay an official visit to Ireland once policing and justice institutions are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

Describing Anglo-Irish relations as "transformed", Mr Reddaway said: "We are no longer defined by what divides us" and are instead "defined by the advantages of working together and what we have in common".

After three years in his Dublin post, Mr Reddaway has been appointed Britain's Ambassador to Turkey.

Irish President Mary McAleese, who has met the Queen on several occasions, last year suggested visit by the Monarch to Ireland was "dependent on the completion of devolution".

(PR/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 May 2011
Queen Continues Historic Irish Visit
The second day of the Queen's visit to Ireland has taken her to the famous Guinness Storehouse at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin.
17 May 2011
Terror Alerts On Eve Of Queen's Irish Visit
Republican terrorists have kept the police guessing as a bomb threat - apparently by Irish dissidents - was made in London. This was the first such 'coded warning' outside Northern Ireland in 10 years, officials said. Whitehall officials said the call with the coded warning came from a number in the Irish Republic on Sunday evening.
08 April 2014
Irish President Starts Historic UK Visit
Irish President Michael D Higgins has been welcomed to the UK by the Royal Family as part of his state visit. Earlier on Tuesday, President Higgins and his wife Sabina met the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle having travelled to the residence in a ceremonial carriage procession though the streets of Windsor.
08 April 2011
Queen's Dublin Visit Revealed
As details of the first reigning Monarch's visit to the Irish Republic emerged yesterday, polarized division has emerged. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has welcomed the planned trip by the Queen to Dublin's Croke Park, during her landmark state visit to Ireland in May.
18 March 2011
Queen In Ireland When Obama Drops In?
The US President Barack Obama is coming to Ireland, and he could be there at the same time as The Queen's historic visit to the Emerald Isle takes place.