William and Kate keep Irish eyes smiling...
THE Duke of Cambridge has promised that the Royal Family will play its part in “preserving and strengthening the bond” between Britain and Ireland.
The future King, on the second day of his historic visit to Dublin, was attempting to enhance the link between the two countries ahead of Brexit trade negotiations with the European Union.
William, 37, said: “The changing relationship between the UK and the EU will require us to work together, to ensure that the relationship between Ireland and the UK remains just as strong.
“Legal treaties are vital in underpinning the relationships between states. But relationships between people are equally, if not more, essential, especially between the people of our two countries, whose lives, histories and futures are so deeply intertwined.
Prosperous
“I am confident that friendship, understanding and a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future will ensure that the unique and precious bond between our people is not broken.
“My family is determined to continue playing our part in protecting, preserving and strengthening that bond.”
He and Kate, 38, were dispatched to Ireland on a delicate diplomatic mission by the Foreign Office to follow in the footsteps of the Queen’s historic state visit in 2011.
That trip nine years ago set the seal on the Northern Irish peace process and triggered five tours to the republic by Prince Charles and Camilla plus one by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
British officials believe the Royal Family’s unique position, plus its sad history of Lord Mountbatten’s 1979 assassination by the IRA, make the Queen and her relatives invaluable ambassadors for maintaining ties between the nations.
William and Kate did face isolated protests yesterday from Irish republicans opposed to such visits during a trip to Howth Cliffs north of Dublin.
But, with security tight during their three days, crowds of wellwishers have also turned out.
The Duke’s speech came at a reception hosted by Ireland’s Tanaiste, the deputy head of the
Government, Simon Coveney, at the Museum of Literature.
William added: “Growing up, I remember seeing the Troubles that took place, which affected so many people across the UK and Ireland.
“This explains why one of the profound moments for Catherine and me took place yesterday at the Garden of Remembrance.
“It was a reminder of the complexity of our history and that, as my grandmother said during her
visit, ‘Our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache’. But it was also a reminder about how far we have come.
“It is right that we continue to remember those who suffered as a consequence of our troubled past. And whilst many wrongs have been done, it is important that we are not bound by these.
“Today, our relationship goes far beyond two countries that are simply neighbours. ‘We are firm friends and equal partners’, my grandmother put it. The links between our people, businesses and our culture are inextricable, and we should all be proud to see how strong those bonds are.”
Michael Creed, the country’s minister for agriculture, said: “It’s our long-term mission to have a close relationship with the UK, including a trading relationship.”
THE Duke of Cambridge displayed strengths that promise to make him a great king on his visit to Ireland. Millions of people in the Republic and Northern Ireland have deep questions about how Brexit will change their lives.
And Sinn Fein’s success in the recent elections has raised the prospect of a full-throttle push for unification that could destabilise the still-fragile peace process.
Prince William used his visit at this fraught time to assure a Dublin audience that the Royal Family will continue “protecting, preserving and strengthening” the bonds between the peoples of Britain and Ireland. His family fully understands the suffering and carnage that was experienced by so many people during the Troubles. Lord Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA in 1979 but the Prince of Wales and the Queen have worked with courage and dignity for reconciliation.
William argued that while “many wrongs have been done, it is important that we are not bound by these”.
This was a wise, thoughtful and strategically important speech which made it abundantly clear that the prince and his family will do everything in their considerable power to ensure extraordinary progress in recent years is not reversed.
The challenge is for politicians on both islands to ensure that goodwill and trade between the islands is only strengthened.