Leo would be ‘delighted’ to welcome royals
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said he would be ‘delighted’ to welcome newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Ireland as part of their honeymoon.
Speculation is rife that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make a flying visit to Dublin in July for a ‘mini-moon’ before taking their post-nuptial celebrations to more exotic horizons.
During their coverage of the royal wedding on Saturday, the BBC speculated heavily that the plans for the proposed break were already well under way.
Asked about the speculation by the Irish Daily Mail yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted he had no knowledge of any proposals, but would be more than happy to see the royal couple come to these shores.
‘I don’t know their travel plans but whatever happens I would be delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Ireland,’ he said.
The couple are expected to stay in Dublin for a single night before continuing their honeymoon further afield, with Africa, South America and the Carib- bean all mooted as destinations.
Meghan Markle has Irish ancestry, while it is rumoured that Prince Harry has made a number of low-key visits to to go shooting. The pair delayed their honeymoon to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party marking Prince Charles’s 70th birthday yesterday.
The new Duchess of Sussex dazzled onlookers with what was described as an ‘elegant and regal outfit’ topped off with a saucer-style hat by Irish milliner Philip Treacy, a favourite among the royals. It has not been confirmed where the couple will honeymoon but Botswana has been suggested, which offers privacy as well as stunning scenery and wildlife for the happy pair. And the couple previously travelled to South Africa together in 2017 to celebrate Markle’s 36th birthday.
The newlyweds received a warm reception in March when they visited Belfast including a trip to the Eikon Exhibition Centre, on the site of the former Maze Prison.