Queen will look to future in Ireland, says Sir John Major

The Queen visits Dublin for the first time in 100 years today - the last head of state to visit Ireland was George V, which was before the partition of Ireland and independence for the south.

Part of central London was evacuated on Monday after a bomb warning said to have been issued by dissident republicans.

But the visit is a real sign of the change in relations between the two countries.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who was in Downing Street when it was attacked by the IRA, said the visit was an indication of ''how far and how fast'' things have changed.