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Irish President Michael D Higgins in historic UK visit Irish President Michael D Higgins in historic UK visit
(35 minutes later)
Irish President Michael D Higgins has been welcomed to the UK by Prince Charles at the start of the first state visit by an Irish head of state. Irish President Michael D Higgins has been welcomed to the UK by Prince Charles at the start of the first state visit by an Irish head of state.
He is due to meet the Queen and address Parliament - another historic first.He is due to meet the Queen and address Parliament - another historic first.
Ahead of the trip he said Anglo-Irish relations were at a high but warned there was "significant work" to do secure peace in Northern Ireland.Ahead of the trip he said Anglo-Irish relations were at a high but warned there was "significant work" to do secure peace in Northern Ireland.
His trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.His trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.
Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but on Tuesday Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness will attend a banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but on Tuesday Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness will attend a banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Mr Higgins said: "I think Her Majesty in coming to Ireland and addressing for example issues of relations between our two people was doing it the right way."Mr Higgins said: "I think Her Majesty in coming to Ireland and addressing for example issues of relations between our two people was doing it the right way."
He is due meet the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle later. He is due to meet the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle later.
As is customary on official state visits, the president will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, central London.As is customary on official state visits, the president will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, central London.
He is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson.He is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson.
He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore.He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore.
'Lingering acrimony'
The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK".The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK".
"My hope for the visit at the end of it all is that people will in ever more numbers come to share in experiencing the history, the present circumstances and culture, and do so in ever greater numbers.""My hope for the visit at the end of it all is that people will in ever more numbers come to share in experiencing the history, the present circumstances and culture, and do so in ever greater numbers."
The BBC's Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago, because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries.The BBC's Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago, because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries.
"All of that changed entirely three years ago," he added, when the Queen lay a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence. "All of that changed entirely three years ago," he added, when the Queen laid a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence.
The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast.The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast.
Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships".Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships".
But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history.But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history.
"How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme."How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Ireland won independence in 1921 following a civil war and guerrilla campaign against British forces.Ireland won independence in 1921 following a civil war and guerrilla campaign against British forces.
However, six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland.However, six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland.
For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country.For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country.
President Higgins said there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean".President Higgins said there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean".
Asked about the Northern Irish peace process, Mr Higgins acknowledged: "There is very significant work to do.Asked about the Northern Irish peace process, Mr Higgins acknowledged: "There is very significant work to do.
"Affecting a kind of amnesia is of no value to you, you are better to honestly deal with our facts that are standing behind you as shadows."Affecting a kind of amnesia is of no value to you, you are better to honestly deal with our facts that are standing behind you as shadows.
"How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?""How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?"
Meanwhile Peter Hain - Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 to 2007 - used an interview with The Times ahead of the president's arrival in the UK to call for "an end to all conflict-related prosecutions".Meanwhile Peter Hain - Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 to 2007 - used an interview with The Times ahead of the president's arrival in the UK to call for "an end to all conflict-related prosecutions".
Celebrating the president's visit, Mr Hain added: "These things could never have happened, even a few years ago had it not been for the peace process and had it not been for the way our two countries, Britain and the Republic of Ireland, have come together in the joint quest for peace and all the tensions and conflict and history put on one side."Celebrating the president's visit, Mr Hain added: "These things could never have happened, even a few years ago had it not been for the peace process and had it not been for the way our two countries, Britain and the Republic of Ireland, have come together in the joint quest for peace and all the tensions and conflict and history put on one side."
Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs.Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs.
In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen.In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen.
"Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous.""Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous."
The president and his wife Sabina are expected to fly back to Dublin on Friday afternoon after a week of engagements.The president and his wife Sabina are expected to fly back to Dublin on Friday afternoon after a week of engagements.