Irish President Michael D Higgins says UK state visit 'significant'

Michael D Higgins will be the first Irish president to pay a state visit to the UK

Irish President Michael D Higgins has described his planned state visit to the UK as "significant".

The president will become the first Irish head of state to make a state visit to the UK, after accepting an invitation from the Queen.

In May 2011 the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland.

President Higgins said his three-day visit next April would "build on the clear connections that are there".

"We are in a new space," he said.

"There are connections in sport, connections in theatre, the arts and culture. I'm sure we will in the structure of the visit be looking at some of these different dimensions."

Banquet

While he has visited the UK several times since becoming president, these were not state visits.

Although the official programme is yet to be finalised, it is expected that Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina will stay at Windsor Castle from 8 April to 10 April.

The president is expected to undertake official visits to the prime minister at Downing Street as well as to the leader of the Opposition.

In line with other state visits it is likely the Lord Mayor of the City of London will host a banquet for the president, and it is also expected that the Queen will host a state banquet.

A state visit is the highest level of diplomatic recognition between two countries in a bilateral relationship.

The key difference between an inward state visit to the UK and other routine official visits, is the direct involvement of the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, and the ceremonial elements that are always integral to these programmes.