President Connolly invites King Charles to make State Visit to Ireland

President Connolly invites King Charles to make State Visit to Ireland

Date: Mon 18 May, 2026 | 17:20

Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, this afternoon met with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London.

The two Heads of State met on the first day of President Connolly's three-day Official Visit to London and Leeds.

At the meeting, President Connolly invited King Charles to make a State Visit to Ireland, in what would be the second State Visit by a British monarch to Ireland since independence.

The King's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, paid a State Visit to Ireland in 2011. This was followed by a State Visit to the United Kingdom by President Michael D. Higgins in 2014, in what was the first such State Visit by a President of Ireland.

In a statement, President Connolly said:

"As President of Ireland, I was delighted to meet this afternoon with His Majesty King Charles, when I appreciated very much the warm welcome which he extended.

King Charles knows Ireland well and has been a positive voice for peace and reconciliation.

In our discussion, we were mindful of the unique relationship as close neighbours and our intertwined history, recalling the significant State Visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland in 2011, as well as the State Visit here of former President Higgins in 2014.

I was very pleased therefore to extend an invitation to King Charles to pay his own State Visit to Ireland. I am sure that he will receive the warmest of welcomes and this will represent a further deepening of our relationship as neighbours and as friends."

Details of the State Visit will be worked out in consultation with the two Governments.