Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has welcomed the news that Prince Charles and wife Camilla are to make an official visit to Ireland.
The Prince of Wales is set to visit both the Republic and the North of Ireland next month. During his trip he will visit Mullaghmore in Co Sligo – where his great uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.
Mr Adams believes that the visit could promote reconciliation, respect and understanding between Ireland and Britain.
Mr Adams said: “The visit by the British Queen to the Garden of Remembrance, her words of reconciliation and the subsequent meetings with Martin McGuinness demonstrated the potential of these events.
“I am conscious that Prince Charles is the symbolic head of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment and the grievous wrong they have done including to the people of Derry and Ballymurphy where I grew up.
“However, I am also conscious that the British Royal family have also been directly affected by the actions of republicans.
“I hope this visit will be an occasion to promote reconciliation, respect and understanding.”
Four years ago the Queen of England became the first ever reigning British monarch to make an official visit to the Republic of Ireland. Charles and Camilla will be in Ireland for four days from May 19-22.