Their Royal Highnesses attend a St Patrick’s Day reception

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception and dinner this evening at the Embassy of Ireland to celebrate UK-Irish relations as St Patrick’s Day approaches. 

Their Royal Highnesses joined guests such as the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, comedian Dara Ó Briain and actors Fiona Shaw and Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have have toured Ireland every year since 2014, attending engagements in 15 counties.

During a toast, The Prince said:

From Kintyre to Kilburn, the influence of the Irish diaspora on the arts, culture, business, academia, fashion and sport here in the United Kingdom has been as profound as it is immeasurable. And Ireland also offers its traditional hundred thousand welcomes - cead mile failte - to so many British people who have made their home across the water or who travel there to experience the warmth and beauty of your country.

Above all we are friends, we are partners and we are the closest of near neighbours, bound together by everything that we have in common - and by just how far we have come together.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, if I may, I would like to propose a toast to the President of Ireland, and the people of Ireland, and to the special bond between our countries."

His Royal Highness finished his toast by wishing everyone a happy St Patrick's Day in Irish: "La Fheile Padraig sona daoibh."