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  "path": "/royal/royal-news-irish-president-catherine-connolly-meets-king-charles-iii-visit-ireland",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-18T16:52:25.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London",
    "William's Duchy of Cornwall estate invests £11million to build eco-homes on Isles of Scilly",
    "Royal wears oxygen mask during public appearance at parade as she battles lung disease",
    "Beatrice and Eugenie invited to Royal Family event as Andrew snubbed",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nKing Charles welcomed Irish President Catherine Connolly to Buckingham Palace this afternoon, marking a significant moment in her inaugural official visit to England.\n\nThe monarch and Ms Connolly were photographed exchanging handshakes and warm smiles during their audience at the palace.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSpeaking to reporters after, Ms Connolly described the meeting, which lasted almost an hour, as \"wonderful\".\n\nShe also revealed she invited the King to visit Ireland, one in which he \"graciously accepted\". This would mark just the second such visit by a British monarch to Ireland since its independence.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThis three-day trip represents the President's first journey to England since taking office following her November inauguration, during which she emphasised her dedication to connecting with Irish communities abroad.\n\nThe visit encompasses engagements across both London and Leeds, reflecting the breadth of Irish presence throughout Britain.\n\nIt marks Ms Connolly's third official overseas engagement since assuming the presidency, having previously travelled to Northern Ireland and Spain.\n\nPrior to her Palace trip, the President visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she addressed attendees and observed an Irish language class in progress.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDuring her speech, Ms Connolly celebrated the extensive influence of Irish people across British life.\n\n\"The Irish contribution to British society is as diverse as can be imagined,\" she said.\n\n\"From the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.\"\n\nShe declared that \"hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life\" remains untouched by Irish influence in Britain.\n\nThe President also reflected on historical migration patterns, noting that economic circumstances drove waves of Irish emigration to London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham from the nineteenth century onwards.\n\n### LATEST ROYAL NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * William's Duchy of Cornwall estate invests £11million to build eco-homes on Isles of Scilly\n  * Royal wears oxygen mask during public appearance at parade as she battles lung disease\n  * Beatrice and Eugenie invited to Royal Family event as Andrew snubbed\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAengus Collins O'Malley, 49, who teaches history lessons on Michael Collins at the centre, said it was great to see the president \"reaching out to the Irish diaspora\".\n\n\"She is our head of state and she is an individual who is known for promoting the Irish language,\" he added.\n\nOisin Moroney, 21, who performed traditional Irish dance for the President, described feeling nervous beforehand but said the anxiety vanished once he began.\n\n\"We were growing up as Irish as you could be without growing up in Ireland,\" the Hammersmith-born dancer remarked.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThis evening, Irish Ambassador Martin Fraser and his wife Deirdre Fraser are hosting a reception at the Irish embassy in London to honour Ms Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery.\n\nTomorrow's schedule takes the President to the Chelsea Flower Show, which is where multiple members of the Royal Family attended this evening, followed by a visit to the London Irish Centre in Camden.\n\nThe trip concludes on Wednesday with engagements in Yorkshire, where Ms Connolly will tour Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.\n\nDuring her time in Leeds, she will receive a briefing on the Irish Health Centre's work and meet representatives from Irish community organisations across the region.\n\nThe visit underscores the enduring bonds between Britain and Ireland, with the President's itinerary spanning cultural, academic and community institutions throughout England.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**\n**\n\n**\n**\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Irish President Catherine Connolly meets King as he 'graciously accepts' offer to visit Ireland"
}