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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Final day of Irish president's state visit to UK | Final day of Irish president's state visit to UK |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have said goodbye to Irish President Michael D Higgins as his state visit to the UK draws to a close. | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have said goodbye to Irish President Michael D Higgins as his state visit to the UK draws to a close. |
| Over the past four days, Mr Higgins has been welcomed as a guest of honour at the UK's most prestigious royal residences and seats of government. | Over the past four days, Mr Higgins has been welcomed as a guest of honour at the UK's most prestigious royal residences and seats of government. |
| The Queen hosted two banquets for her Irish guest at Windsor Castle and he addressed both Houses of Parliament. | The Queen hosted two banquets for her Irish guest at Windsor Castle and he addressed both Houses of Parliament. |
| The visit was aimed at celebrating and strengthening British and Irish links. | The visit was aimed at celebrating and strengthening British and Irish links. |
| It followed the Queen's first state visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, which was widely hailed as a diplomatic triumph and a milestone in Anglo-Irish relations. | It followed the Queen's first state visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, which was widely hailed as a diplomatic triumph and a milestone in Anglo-Irish relations. |
| Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina left Windsor Castle on Friday morning to fulfil their final engagements. | Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina left Windsor Castle on Friday morning to fulfil their final engagements. |
| They travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. | They travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. |
| Return home | Return home |
| In addition to his political career, Mr Higgins is a well-known poet and author, while his wife is an actress. | In addition to his political career, Mr Higgins is a well-known poet and author, while his wife is an actress. |
| President Higgins made a speech about the English language, its role in Ireland, and about the shared dialogue between two islands. | President Higgins made a speech about the English language, its role in Ireland, and about the shared dialogue between two islands. |
| He said: "It is the business of living souls to breathe life into words, and I have no doubt but that our long conversation in a shared language will continue into the far future to breathe new life, and the lightning of our different imaginations, into a common human purpose." | He said: "It is the business of living souls to breathe life into words, and I have no doubt but that our long conversation in a shared language will continue into the far future to breathe new life, and the lightning of our different imaginations, into a common human purpose." |
| After the Stratford-upon-Avon engagement, Mr and Mrs Higgins attended a reception for members of the Irish community in Coventry. | |
| They are due to return home to Dublin on Friday afternoon. | They are due to return home to Dublin on Friday afternoon. |
| During his tour, Mr Higgins met Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Buckingham Palace. | During his tour, Mr Higgins met Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Buckingham Palace. |
| He also attended several events marking the contribution of the Irish community to public life in Britain. | He also attended several events marking the contribution of the Irish community to public life in Britain. |
| They included business leaders, charity workers and NHS staff. | They included business leaders, charity workers and NHS staff. |
| On Thursday evening, the president attended a concert celebrating Irish music and culture at London's Royal Albert Hall. | On Thursday evening, the president attended a concert celebrating Irish music and culture at London's Royal Albert Hall. |
| At the event, Mr Higgins thanked the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for their "gracious welcome and warm hospitality" throughout his UK trip. | At the event, Mr Higgins thanked the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for their "gracious welcome and warm hospitality" throughout his UK trip. |
| Toast | Toast |
| He said the preparation they had made for his state visit was "reflective of the true and deep friendship that now exists between Ireland and the United Kingdom". | He said the preparation they had made for his state visit was "reflective of the true and deep friendship that now exists between Ireland and the United Kingdom". |
| The four-day diplomatic mission will also be remembered for the participation of Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, who was invited to Windsor Castle twice this week. | The four-day diplomatic mission will also be remembered for the participation of Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, who was invited to Windsor Castle twice this week. |
| The former IRA leader is now the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland. | The former IRA leader is now the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland. |
| On Tuesday night, he joined in a toast to the Queen during a state banquet. | On Tuesday night, he joined in a toast to the Queen during a state banquet. |
| Mr McGuinness stood for the toast, proposed by Irish President Michael D Higgins, as an orchestra played God Save The Queen. | Mr McGuinness stood for the toast, proposed by Irish President Michael D Higgins, as an orchestra played God Save The Queen. |
| The Sinn Féin MLA said his participation in the royal reception was in aid of "conflict resolution and reconciliation". | The Sinn Féin MLA said his participation in the royal reception was in aid of "conflict resolution and reconciliation". |