Michael D accepts invitation to Buckingham Palace
President Michael D Higgins is to pay an official visit to the Queen of England.
It has been announced this evening that Michael D Higgins has accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to go to the UK next April.
The move has been warmly welcomed by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny who says it is "a further demonstration of the warm and positive relationship that now exists between Ireland and the United Kingdom".
The State engaement, which will be the first ever by an Irish head os State take place from April 8-10, follows the visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth in 2011- the first by a reigning British monarch in a hundred years.
President Higgins will be accompanied by his wife and details of the trip will be announced closer to the time jointly by Áras an Uachtaráin and Buckingham Palace.
