Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle will be visiting Ireland next month in their first official trip as a married couple.
Kensington Palace has released details of their itinerary for their visit on July 11-12.
A statement from the palace says the couple are ‘looking forward to learning more about Ireland’s history and experiencing its rich culture, as well as meeting the people who are shaping the country’s future’.
It reveals the couple will take in several sites and learn more about Ireland’s history.
They will visit Croke Park to attend a GAA sports festival where they will learn about the significance of GAA in Irish life.
They will then head to Dublin’s Trinity College. While at Trinity they will visit the Book of Kells, the ancient manuscript handwritten by Irish monks in the 9th century.
They will also head to Dublin’s North Quay to see the Famine memorial – a harrowing collection of sculptures of people suffering from starvation by sculptor Rowan Gillespie.
Harry and Meghan will then visit EPIC, the Irish emigration museum that tells the stories of the 10 million Irish people who have left the country and found new homes all over the world.
While in Ireland they will have official meetings with The President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, and with Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
The couple will also attend a summer garden party at the British Ambassador Robin Barnett’s residence. They will meet people have have achieved success in various areas such as arts, sports, military and social enterprise.
Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told the Irish Independent: “The Duchess of Sussex has been to Dublin before so it’s a chance for her to show her new husband around.
“Britain is our nearest neighbour and closest friend and Ireland will be very welcoming of Harry and Meghan as we were to Queen Elizabeth on her state visit as well as Prince Charles and Camilla.”
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling
