Irish President hails 'once unachievable closeness' with UK

Irish President Michael D Higgins has spoken of a "closeness and warmth" between Britain and Ireland "that once seemed unachievable".

Speaking at the Palace of Westminster during his state visit to the UK, Mr Higgins said both countries should take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.

Before he began his address, he stopped to pay his respects at a memorial to the Queen's cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was killed in an IRA attack in 1979.