The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Northern Ireland and Ireland

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Northern Ireland and Ireland 

9th – 12th May 2017

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit Northern Ireland and Ireland from 9th – 12th May. Their Royal Highnesses will arrive in County Antrim on Tuesday 9th May, before moving to Dublin on Wednesday 10th to undertake a joint official visit. 

The visit to Ireland is at the request of the British Government and follows the visits Their Royal Highnesses made to the country in 2015 and 2016. As on those occasions, this visit will showcase the strength and vitality of the connections between the United Kingdom and Ireland; and the friendship and partnership that has defined our relationship over recent years. The Prince and Duchess's programme will allow them to honour those men and women whose sacrifice in times of conflict shaped our two countries' shared history; and to celebrate all that we do together to cement peace and secure a prosperous future. 

In Northern Ireland, Their Royal Highnesses will undertake a range of engagements, including hosting a musical evening at Hillsborough Castle. The Royal couple will also officially open a memorial garden to members of the Police Service Northern Ireland who lost their lives in the service of the people of Northern Ireland.

On arrival in Dublin, The Prince and Duchess will be received by President Higgins and Sabina Higgins at the President's residence, Áras an Uachtaráin. Other highlights of Their Royal Highnesses' third official visit to Ireland will include an engagement at Kilkenny Castle, where they will see some traditional music and watch a hurling demonstration by the Gaelic Athletic Association; His Royal Highness will tour the  United Nations Training School Ireland at the Curragh Camp; Her Royal Highness will visit the Irish National Stud and The Prince and Duchess will attend ceremonies at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin to commemorate those who lost their lives in the First World War and during the Easter Rising. Whilst in Dublin, His Royal Highness will also meet The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and Their Royal Highnesses will conclude their visit by attending a Reception at the British Ambassador's Residence.  

ENDS  

Notes for Editors

In May last year, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited County Donegal in Ireland. The Royal Couple toured County Galway, County Clare and County Sligo in May 2015. In April 2014, Their Royal Highnesses welcomed Irish President, Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins, to the U.K. as part of the Irish State Visit. Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made a State Visit to Ireland from 17th-20th May 2011, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

The Prince has officially visited Ireland four times before. Their Royal Highnesses have previously visited together in May 2015 & May 2016. 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall most recently visited Northern Ireland in May last year. 

Click here to read a speech given by The Prince of Wales in Letterkenny in Ireland last year.