Prince William and Kate Middleton will head to Dublin and Cork later in the year as reports suggest they are planning a Spring trip across the Irish Sea.
It will be the first time the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited the Republic of Ireland, although they did visit Northern Ireland in 2016.
Prince William is also a Colonel of the Irish Guards.
The Royal couple are expected to take part in a series of engagements during a two day stay.
The final plans for their visit are currently being put together by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth became the first British monarch to visit Ireland in 100 years.
There had been concerns that the Queen’s visit could lead to protests and even violence, but Ireland’s public welcomed her and she showed respect to her hosts and made a speech in the Irish language during her stay.
The success of the Queen’s visit to Ireland was seen as a symbolic step forward in Anglo-Irish relations with a feeling that both countries wanted to put the past behind them and work towards a friendly relationship for the future.
Following the success of Queen Elizabeth’s visit, Ireland has become a favourite destination of Prince Charles and Camilla.
The couple have made the trip across the Irish Sea five times in the last five years.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent two days in Ireland as part of their first official trip as a married couple.
In 2019, Prince William presented shamrocks to the First Battalion of the Irish Guards at their Cavalry Barracks in London, before supping a pint of Guinness.
Research from Tourism Ireland in 2016 revealed that Kate Middleton was descended from Irish High King Brian Boru via the Fitzmaurice family of Co Kerry.
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling
