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| Queen on first state visit to Republic of Ireland | Queen on first state visit to Republic of Ireland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen is set to begin the first visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch. | The Queen is set to begin the first visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch. |
| On the eve of her historic trip a massive security operation was in place in Dublin, and a bomb threat from Irish dissidents was investigated in London. | On the eve of her historic trip a massive security operation was in place in Dublin, and a bomb threat from Irish dissidents was investigated in London. |
| Irish police said up to 4,000 people were involved in the ongoing security operation for the four-day trip. | Irish police said up to 4,000 people were involved in the ongoing security operation for the four-day trip. |
| It is the first such visit since independence and comes against a rise in dissident republican violence. | It is the first such visit since independence and comes against a rise in dissident republican violence. |
| King George V was the last reigning monarch to visit the country in 1911 when it was then part of the UK. | King George V was the last reigning monarch to visit the country in 1911 when it was then part of the UK. |
| The Queen was invited to Ireland by the Republic's President, Mary McAleese, who will formally welcome the monarch at her home in Dublin's Phoenix Park. | The Queen was invited to Ireland by the Republic's President, Mary McAleese, who will formally welcome the monarch at her home in Dublin's Phoenix Park. |
| The Queen will attend events at Trinity College Dublin, the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge and at Croke Park stadium. | The Queen will attend events at Trinity College Dublin, the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge and at Croke Park stadium. |
| Croke Park is the home of Gaelic football where, in 1920 during the Irish War of Independence, British forces fired into the crowd at a match, killing 14 spectators and players. | Croke Park is the home of Gaelic football where, in 1920 during the Irish War of Independence, British forces fired into the crowd at a match, killing 14 spectators and players. |
| The Queen is also to make a speech at a state dinner at Dublin Castle. | The Queen is also to make a speech at a state dinner at Dublin Castle. |
| There are plans for the Queen and Prince Philip to visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, as well as the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, and a technology park in Cork. | There are plans for the Queen and Prince Philip to visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, as well as the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, and a technology park in Cork. |
| Symbolism | Symbolism |
| Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who helped to establish the Northern Ireland Peace Process in the early 1990s, said the Queen's visit would "put a seal" on the relationship between the UK and Ireland. | Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who helped to establish the Northern Ireland Peace Process in the early 1990s, said the Queen's visit would "put a seal" on the relationship between the UK and Ireland. |
| "One thing you discover if you travel round the world is that the Queen has become iconic. | "One thing you discover if you travel round the world is that the Queen has become iconic. |
| "If you're abroad and people talk about the Queen, they mean our Queen and I think the symbolism of her visiting Ireland - given the history of the past - will be seen as a very big event and absolutely pivotal event in building an even better relationship in the future," he told BBC's Newsnight programme. | "If you're abroad and people talk about the Queen, they mean our Queen and I think the symbolism of her visiting Ireland - given the history of the past - will be seen as a very big event and absolutely pivotal event in building an even better relationship in the future," he told BBC's Newsnight programme. |
| The coded bomb threat in London, received on Sunday, was the first issued by Irish dissidents outside Northern Ireland in 10 years, officials said. | The coded bomb threat in London, received on Sunday, was the first issued by Irish dissidents outside Northern Ireland in 10 years, officials said. |
| The threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism, which stands at severe, has not been changed. | The threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism, which stands at severe, has not been changed. |
| Sir John said he was not worried that the threat indicated there could be trouble during the visit. | Sir John said he was not worried that the threat indicated there could be trouble during the visit. |
| "I think you can find people who will demonstrate against anything or anyone on any occasion, so I think there may well be a handful of people who will demonstrate, but that plainly - from what we've seen in the nine months of preparation - is not the view of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people. | "I think you can find people who will demonstrate against anything or anyone on any occasion, so I think there may well be a handful of people who will demonstrate, but that plainly - from what we've seen in the nine months of preparation - is not the view of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people. |
| "I am absolutely certain that the Queen and the duke will get a fantastic reception." | |
| As part of the security operation in Dublin, thousands of manhole covers and lampposts have been checked, and parking restrictions started on Monday. | As part of the security operation in Dublin, thousands of manhole covers and lampposts have been checked, and parking restrictions started on Monday. |
| Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said the four-day visit was hugely significant, and showed the "maturity" of the relationship between the country and the Queen and British government. | |
| "Except for a tiny minority, people welcome this," he said. | "Except for a tiny minority, people welcome this," he said. |