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Irish President Michael D Higgins on second day of visit Irish President Michael D Higgins at Downing Street
(about 1 hour later)
Irish President Michael D Higgins has been carrying out more engagements on the second day of his historic visit to the UK. Irish President Michael D Higgins is at Downing Street on the second day of his historic visit to the UK.
The president has met Irish members of staff at University College Hospital in London. The president is holding a private lunch with Prime Minister David Cameron.
Earlier, he and his wife Sabina, were met by the Duke of York, colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment at Windsor Castle. Earlier, the president met Irish members of staff at University College Hospital in London.
In the first engagement if the day, he and his wife Sabina, were met by the Duke of York, colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment at Windsor Castle.
They viewed the colours - regimental flags - of disbanded Irish regiments.They viewed the colours - regimental flags - of disbanded Irish regiments.
The presidential couple looked over the colours of the Royal Irish Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Connaught Rangers, the Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians), and the Royal Munster Fusiliers.The presidential couple looked over the colours of the Royal Irish Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Connaught Rangers, the Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians), and the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
They were given pride of place in a stairway entrance to Windsor Palace, so that everyone could see them, on the insistence of King George V in 1922.They were given pride of place in a stairway entrance to Windsor Palace, so that everyone could see them, on the insistence of King George V in 1922.
The colours, which honour the service of Irish soldiers in the First World War and other conflicts, have never been moved from their permanent setting - except when the 1992 Windsor fire threatened to destroy them.The colours, which honour the service of Irish soldiers in the First World War and other conflicts, have never been moved from their permanent setting - except when the 1992 Windsor fire threatened to destroy them.
"Needs must, we took them out," the Duke of York told the couple."Needs must, we took them out," the Duke of York told the couple.
Lunch with prime minister Guildhall banquet
Later Mr Higgins will have a private lunch with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street. Mr Higgins' visit is the first state visit to the UK by an Irish head of state.
Afterwards he is due to meet Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Buckingham Palace. After the lunch with Mr Cameron, Mr Higgins is due to meet Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Buckingham Palace.
His schedule of engagements on Wednesday is due to conclude with a banquet at the Guildhall in the City of London.His schedule of engagements on Wednesday is due to conclude with a banquet at the Guildhall in the City of London.
On Tuesday, Mr Higgins addressed both Houses of Parliament and attended a state banquet hosted by the Queen.On Tuesday, Mr Higgins addressed both Houses of Parliament and attended a state banquet hosted by the Queen.
The Windsor Castle banquet on Tuesday night was also attended by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.The Windsor Castle banquet on Tuesday night was also attended by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The former IRA leader joined in a toast to the Queen, having said he would "observe all the protocols and civilities".The former IRA leader joined in a toast to the Queen, having said he would "observe all the protocols and civilities".
Mr McGuinness had previously shaken hands with the Queen during her 2012 visit to Northern Ireland.Mr McGuinness had previously shaken hands with the Queen during her 2012 visit to Northern Ireland.
On Wednesday, he said: "I believe I have the overwhelming support from the people of Ireland for what I did."On Wednesday, he said: "I believe I have the overwhelming support from the people of Ireland for what I did."
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny welcomed Mr McGuinness' attendance at the banquet and said the Sinn Féin member should have attended a reception for the Queen at Dublin Castle in 2011.Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny welcomed Mr McGuinness' attendance at the banquet and said the Sinn Féin member should have attended a reception for the Queen at Dublin Castle in 2011.
"You cannot have a block of politics anchored to the past that does not let the next generation move ahead," Mr Kenny said."You cannot have a block of politics anchored to the past that does not let the next generation move ahead," Mr Kenny said.
"It is time to move on and, as President [Bill] Clinton said, finish the job and the job must be finished by the people who have the responsibility.""It is time to move on and, as President [Bill] Clinton said, finish the job and the job must be finished by the people who have the responsibility."
Mr Kenny welcomed the Queen's endorsement of the suggestion that a member of the British Royal family might attend some of Ireland's independence commemorations.Mr Kenny welcomed the Queen's endorsement of the suggestion that a member of the British Royal family might attend some of Ireland's independence commemorations.
He said these events had to be handled sensitively but he would welcome any royal involvement.He said these events had to be handled sensitively but he would welcome any royal involvement.
He also said he would like to see the Queen pay another visit to Ireland but that was a decision for the British authorities.He also said he would like to see the Queen pay another visit to Ireland but that was a decision for the British authorities.
Speaking at a business breakfast in London, Mr Kenny described the visit of President Higgins as "momentous".Speaking at a business breakfast in London, Mr Kenny described the visit of President Higgins as "momentous".
Mr Higgins' visit is the first state visit to the UK by an Irish head of state.
His four-day trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.His four-day trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.
During his speech in the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Higgins spoke of his country's "deep and enduring" friendship with Britain.During his speech in the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Higgins spoke of his country's "deep and enduring" friendship with Britain.
He said both countries could take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.He said both countries could take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.
Mr Higgins spoke of the "pain and sacrifice" associated with Irish independence from the UK in 1922, which he said had cast a "long shadow across our relations".Mr Higgins spoke of the "pain and sacrifice" associated with Irish independence from the UK in 1922, which he said had cast a "long shadow across our relations".
"We acknowledge that past but, even more, we wholeheartedly welcome the considerable achievement of today's reality - the mutual respect, friendship and co-operation which exists between our two countries," he said."We acknowledge that past but, even more, we wholeheartedly welcome the considerable achievement of today's reality - the mutual respect, friendship and co-operation which exists between our two countries," he said.