Tuesday 08 April 2014 16.30 President Michael D Higgins is addressing both houses of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on the first of his four-day State visit to the UK.
Ahead of the historic address, President Higgins laid a wreath with a tri-coloured ribbon at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
Earlier, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip welcomed President and his wife, Sabina, to Windsor.
The presidential couple had lunch at Windsor Castle with the royal couple, before heading back into central London.
The President also inspected a guard of honour drawn from Grenadier Guards.
There was plenty of pomp and ceremony on display as the President arrived at Windsor Castle, with more than 800 soldiers, 275 horses and the band of the Irish Guards involved in the welcome for President Higgins and his wife.
A 21-gun salute also sounded as Britain's Queen and Prince Philip greeted the President with Amhrán na bhFiann ringing out over Windsor Castle.
Before travelling to Windsor the President greeted Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Irish Embassy in London.
The President and Mrs Higgins were accompanied by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and his wife Carol Hanney.
The royal couple chatted with the President and Mrs Higgins, the Duchess commenting that the sun had come out in London for the visit.
Hundreds of spectators gathered on the streets of Windsor to view President Higgins and Mrs Higgins make their way to Windsor Castle.
Among those gathered was Stephen McNally, from the West Midlands, whose father was from Omagh.
He said he had come "partly because of the Irish state visit but we do like to see all of the pageantry, the royal family, the carriages and horses, the household cavalry and the army."
President-elect of the GAA Aogán Ó Fearghail was outside Windsor Castle taking some personal pictures.
He will be attending the State banquet tonight in Windsor Castle, hosted by the Queen.
"It's fabulous to see our flag the tricolour hanging alongside the union flag," he said.
He added that he is looking forward to the banquet, which will be attended by 160 people, as a "cementing of relationships between these two islands".
Guests will include Taoiseach Enda Kenny, former president Mary McAleese, British Prime Minister David Cameron and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
The Queen and the President will both make speeches at the event. It will be the only address given by the Queen during the visit.
In the course of the busy four-day programme, President Higgins will attend several functions, marking the contribution made in Britain by successive generations of Irish immigrants.
President Higgins, who is the ninth President of Ireland, is making history by becoming the first holder of the office to make a State visit to the UK.
Police and the local authority in Windsor have described the Irish State visit as "one of the best attended."
The Police Commander estimates that between 6,000-7,000 people turned out in Windsor, as President Higgins travelled with the Queen through the streets at Windsor Castle.
In Dublin, the Taoiseach said President Higgins' State visit to the UK is a historic day for Ireland.
On his way into Cabinet this morning, Mr Kenny also said he is thinking today of the many Irish people who emigrated to the UK.
Special programmes will continue on RTÉ One and News Now at 4.15pm this afternoon and 8.25pm this evening.
Separately, the leader of Sinn Féin has said Martin McGuinness' attendence at the State banquet at Windsor Castle tonight ensures the occasion will have an all-Ireland dimension.
Gerry Adams said the event presents 'political and symbolic challenges for Irish republicans' but Sinn Féin had decided through a process of consultation that it was right that Mr McGuinness would attend.
He said Martin McGuinness' contribution in the 'process of change and transition' has to be seen very, very positively.
Read our live blog here and view a gallery of images
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Higgins making historic Westminster speech
Dengan url
http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2014/04/higgins-making-historic-westminster.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Higgins making historic Westminster speech
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Higgins making historic Westminster speech
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar