King Charles III could make a historic state visit to Ireland next year as Dublin and London plan a big reset in Anglo-Irish relations after Labour’s landslide UK election victory.
The Sunday Times understands both governments are hopeful that, health permitting, the King, who had cancer diagnosed this year, will follow in the footsteps of his mother and George V in 1911 and become the third British monarch to make a state visit to Ireland.
A senior government source in Dublin said it was clear that the King “wants to visit Ireland” and that such a visit would be helpful in the context of what Simon Harris, the taoiseach, has said will be a “great reset” in relations with Britain after years of tensions. A British government source said the King and Queen Camilla “definitely want to come” to Ireland, but that a visit would take up between four and six months to plan.
It is envisaged the King would stay in Ireland for several days, attending state functions in Dublin and travelling the country to visit cities possibly including Limerick.
The political situation in Ireland would have to be resolved before a visit. A general election is due before the end of March next year.
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The possible state visit was not discussed by Harris and Sir Keir Starmer during their phone call on Friday evening in which the prime minister invited the taoiseach to dinner in Downing Street next week. Harris will invite Starmer to visit Dublin later this year when the pair meet in London on July 17.
Queen Elizabeth’s trip to the Republic in 2011 is often regarded as a turning point in Anglo-Irish relations. In 1995 Charles, as Prince of Wales, became the first member of the British royal family to visit the country since it declared independence in 1919. He has since enjoyed many public and private trips to the country.
