News

President Higgins meets the Prince of Wales at Irish Embassy

PRESIDENT Higgins and Sabina Higgins arrived in the Embassy at Grosvenor Place, central London, this morning at 10.07am.

The President and his wife were accompanied by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore and his wife Carol Hanney.

They were greeted at the Embassy by Ambassador Dan Mulhall and Greta Mulhall and shook hands with the assembled Embassy staff, before being escorted upstairs to the Ambassador's office on the first floor.

Sabina Higgins was wearing a pink ensemble, with coat in silk tweed and matching dress by Louise Kennedy and a hat by Philip Treacy.

The British delegation arrived at 10.30am and at 10.45 formed a receiving line in the lobby.

At 10.55 am, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Embassy. The couple proceeded to the Ambassador's office where they were introduced to the President and Sabina Higgins and to the Tánaiste and Ms Hanney.

Ireland's ambassador for Britain Dun Mulhall was amongst those present at Ireland's embassy in London this morning

There were handshakes and friendly conversation, before the President and Sabina Higgins escorted the royal couple downstairs to the lobby at 11.07 am where the Prince and the Duchess introduced the British delegation.

The members of the British delegation were: The Viscount Hood, Lord-in-waiting on behalf of the Queen, The Hon. Mary Morrison, Lady-in-waiting, Mr Dominick Chilcott, British Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jane Chilcott, Commander Andrew Canale RN, Equerry-in-waiting and Captain Oliver Morley, Assistant Equerry.

The Prince and the Duchess, along with the President and Sabina, departed shortly after in a motorcade for Windsor Castle.

There was a protest across the street by seven pro-choice campaigners who chanted slogans in favour of legalised abortion in Ireland.

This was organised by an group called Speaking of IMELDA, an acronym for 'Ireland Making England the Legal Destination for Abortion'.