Britain's Princess Anne visits President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin

Irish Independent

4 days ago

The princess royal (74) wore a mint green coat and navy pencil skirt as she shook hands with President Higgins and his wife, Sabina.
Princess Anne signed the visitors' book and told Mr Higgins: 'I don't want to waste the whole page,' at which Mrs Higgins responded: 'You deserve a whole page.'
The princess, who is in Ireland to attend the Dublin Horse Show, said the weather was warmer than she had expected.
Spotting a horse badge on his visitor's lapel, President Higgins said the jewellery was very appropriate.
Princess Anne joked with President Higgins that he had been in Áras an Uachtaráin 'a long time'. He responded: 'Indeed, it had been 14 years'.
'You spend all your time here?' she asked, to which Sabina responded: 'All our time.'
This is expected to be President Higgins' final engagement with the British royal family before he leaves office.
The visit marks a renewed relationship between Ireland and the UK, with the two countries becoming closer since Keir Starmer's Labour government was elected last year.
Princess Anne last visited Ireland in 2004.
King Charles' sister will later attend the opening day of the 150th Dublin Horse Show at the RDS.
In a statement following their meeting, President Higgins said: "It was a pleasure to renew my conversations with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and to recognise the significant contribution which she has made over so many years to the relationship between our two countries.
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"I was also pleased to recognise the contribution which The Princess Royal has made to equestrian sports over the years as well as to related learning and therapy services.
"I further took the opportunity to extend my best wishes to His Majesty King Charles and to recall his unwavering support for peace and reconciliation."
During he rvisit, Anne will tour a special exhibition on the history of the Horse Show and meet representatives from Festina Lente - a Bray-based charity offering equine-assisted learning and therapy services - and the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland.
The princess, who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games in the equestrian three-day event, will also present rosettes to the winners in Class 20 of the Small Hunters competition.
The British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston, said: "The Princess Royal's visit underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the significance of the 150th holding of the RDS Dublin Horse Show.
"Her Royal Highness has visited Ireland on many occasions, including as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for their biannual Six Nations games here.
"Her visit this week reflects her lifelong interest in equestrianism and charitable work."
President Higgins has had significant interaction with the royal family over the course of his two terms.
In 2014, he became the first President of Ireland to make a State Visit to the United Kingdom, reciprocating the State Visit made by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011.
Anne visited the Áras in February 2004 during engagements where she was greeted by then-Irish President Mary McAleese.
The princess was accompanied on that private visit by the British ambassador to Ireland at the time, Stewart Eldon.
Members of the royal family have visited the president's residence on several occasions, including the historic trip by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2011.
She was the first monarch to visit the Republic, where she signed a guest book at the Aras and planted an English oak tree at the Peace Bell.
Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, made solo visits to Aras an Uachtarain in November 1998 and again in April 2006.
During their three-day visit to the Republic in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales - then titled the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - had a tea party with President Higgins and his wife at the Aras and met one of the president's dogs, Bród.