Queen Elizabeth’s historic 2011 visit was a resounding success, described as a "watershed moment" by outgoing Tánaiste Simon Coveney. Ireland’s tourism industry is at an all-time high: when Meghan and Harry visited in 2018, Ireland was experiencing record visitor numbers which would total 11.2 million by year’s end. To describe the visit as anything other than a real-life practice run in earning positive publicity as newlyweds would be facetious. Expand Close Welcome: President Higgins and his wife Sabina with Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan at Áras an Uachtaráin in July. Now that Brexit is in effect, Kate Middleton and Prince William have been recruited for their first official trip here.

Source: Irish Independent February 12, 2020 10:18 UTC