Officials scope out royal visit security
Harry and Meghan to see display at Croke Park
PLANS for the visit of Prince Harry and Meghan to Ireland are at an advanced stage as British officials quietly shadowed a recent VIP visit to Croke Park, the Mail can reveal.
Officials from the British Embassy in Dublin were present on Friday when European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker visited the GAA HQ on the second of his two-day trip here. As many as three embassy staff witnessed how the visit went as they plan to bring the newlywed royals there next month.
Harry and Meghan, who married at Windsor Castle last month, will arrive in Dublin in the coming weeks for a two-day visit.
Kensington Palace last week confirmed the much-speculated Irish trip and said the couple will be here on July 10 and 11.
This is set to be their first break abroad since their wedding and Kensington Palace said they are travelling ‘at the request of Her Majesty’s Government’.
A spokesman added they are ‘looking forward to learning more about Ireland’s history and experiencing its rich culture as well as meeting the people who are shaping the country’s future’.
When Harry’s grandparents – Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip – made their first visit here in 2011, they took in a number of Irish landmarks, including Croke Park.
And now the young newlyweds are set to follow in their footsteps by making a stop at the historic stadium where they are also expected see a GAA display.
Mr Juncker was said to have been intrigued by a display of hurling, having met Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin.
Meghan and Harry are also tipped to visit Trinity College in the heart of the capital, another of the ten engagements or stops they are expected to participate in during the whistle-stop tour.
It’s understood the first thing on the schedule is a trip to Government Buildings where they will meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
And they will also stop at Áras an Uachtaráin during the 48-hour tour for a ‘courtesy call’ to President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Farmleigh House – the State guest house – or the luxurious British Ambassador’s residence at Glencairn House are tipped as two possible locations where they will stay.
And the couple may possibly fly in through Casement Aerodrome, as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip did in 2011.
Security plans are at an advanced stage and it is not known how many engagements or interactions the Royal couple will have – if any – with the public.
Their visit will come just weeks after Harry’s father Prince Charles visited Cork and Kerry.
In recent weeks, Harry and Meghan have drawn the attention of the world’s press wherever they go. It’s anticipated that their trip here will be no different. The British Embassy is expected to begin the accreditation process for the media today.
Fáilte Ireland last week welcomed the impending royal visit.
‘The world’s media and global attention will be on them while they’re here, so Fáilte Ireland is obviously really excited they’re going to join us,’ a spokesman said. ‘We want them to come over here and have a great time because it’s a great place to visit – they are so welcome.
‘We’re all more than happy they’ve decided to come to Ireland.
‘Britain is and will always be our closest neighbour and it just shows how warm the relationship is now and how happy we are to have them.’
The July visit will be Harry’s first to Ireland while Meghan has visited twice in recent years, first in 2013.
Back then, she was a well-known actress on the hit US TV show, Suits and tweeted that Dublin was ‘beyond lovely’.
Meghan was in Dublin on that occasion to speak to Trinity College Dublin’s Philosophical Society and to collect the Bram Stoker Entertainment Award.
She also visited the Guinness Storehouse where she learned how to pour a pint with Lisa Cannon from TV3’s Xposé.
The following year, she was back in Dublin for the One Young World summit, where she met human rights campaigner Ali Hewson
UK staff attended Juncker visit