On Tuesday 3rd March 2020 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started their tour of Ireland. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made an historic visit to Ireland in 2011, and since then other royals have made visits.
Kensington Palace said before the visit:
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Ireland between Tuesday 3rd March and Thursday 5th March, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The visit, which will see Their Royal Highnesses spend time in Dublin, County Meath, County Kildare and Galway, will highlight the many strong links between the UK and Ireland.
From its thriving cities to rural communities, the programme will take in Ireland’s rich culture, its impactful community initiatives and spectacular scenery. Following Her Majesty The Queen’s historic visit in 2011, the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation.
During the three-day tour, The Duke and Duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills. Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Ireland’s conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation.
2020 will see Galway host the European Capital of Culture on behalf of Ireland – a showcase of events highlighting the richness and diversity of Irish culture, art and sport. During their time in Galway, The Duke and Duchess will have the opportunity to experience a taste of modern and traditional Irish culture for themselves.
Throughout the visit, Their Royal Highness will meet a broad range of people, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior political leaders, children and young people, and those working in the creative arts, business and charity sectors.
The UK’s links with Ireland are extensive, and The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people.”
On day one, the Cambridge’s arrived in Ireland at 2pm, and went straight to a meeting with President and Mrs Higgins, and their dog Brod, for an official welcome. The couple were greeted with Barry’s tea, shamrock shortbread, oat biscuits and lemon drizzle cake, all prepared by the in-house chef. Later on they laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance, a place to reflect on and remember those who gave their lives for Irish independence. The handwritten note on their wreath read, "May we never forget the lessons of history as we continue to build a brighter future together." They then met with Taoiseach Leo Varadka.
In the evening the couple attended a reception at the Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar, and met people from a wide range of backgrounds, a real cross-section of the creative arts, sports, business and charity sectors. This follows in the footsteps of the Queen, who also visited the Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar, during her visit back in 2011. The Duke gave a speech saying, "We are very much looking forward to our next two days in Ireland, where I have no doubt we will continue to be impressed by the creativity, warmth and hospitality the Irish people have to offer.” He added in, "It is not often that I find myself following the Queen to a pub!" After his speech, the duke raised his pint of Guinness and took a sip as he uttered the Irish toast "Sláinte".
As I expected, the Duchess wore a lot of green, and looked very elegant, because green is the colour of Ireland. Diplomatic dressing and paying tribute to the host country forms and important part of any royal tour, and requires a lot of careful thought, planning, and creativity.
On the second day of the tour, the Cambridge's focused on mental health, arguably their top focus of their charity work at the moment, so it is no surprise that this featured in the tour. The couple saw the work of Jigsaw, a charity for young people with mental health troubles, at a drop-in centre in Dublin. They met young people, parents, teachers and campaigners as they heard about the different approaches used by Jigsaw, from one-to-one, online, community, and school services. The Duchess wore a white Reiss coat for the engagement. The couple also visited Savannah House in County Kildare, which is a residential facility run by the charity Extern, supporting young people with issues from homelessness to drug and alcohol abuse. They took part in cooking activities to help young people learn about healthy eating, table tennis which produced a lot of laughs, and arts and crafts activities.
Later on the focus turned to the environment, a key focus of the Duke's work in particular. The couple visited Teagasc Research Farm in County Meath to hear about the pioneering sustainable farming methods they are promoting nationwide, and met farmers who are implementing them. During this engagement the couple told school children they'd like to return to Ireland with their children and go on a cycling holiday. They also viewed the spectacular Irish coastline at Howth Cliff with representatives of the Marine Institute to hear about their work.
In the evening the couple attended a reception at Museum of Literature, hosted by Irish Tanaiste Simon Coveney. The Duchess wore a lovely pink and black vintage Oscar de la Renta dress. The Duke gave a keynote speech, speaking of the commitment of his family to continue to foster good relations between Ireland and the UK.
The third and final day of the tour saw the Cambridge’s in Galway. On behalf of Ireland, Galway is hosting the European Capital of Culture for 2020, which will highlight the diversity and richness of Irish culture, and Ireland’s artistic endeavour. The Duke and Duchess met young people and performers at Tribeton, and saw and took part in many activities such as Livefeed, Hoops and the Galway Community Circus, which all feature in Galway2020. The couple visited a local pub to meet community volunteers, and took part in a short walkabout in the pedestrianised city centre. I think that walkabouts continue to be a staple of royal visits and tours because they work so well, and really give the general public a chance to engage with the royals. It creates a sense of celebration and occasion.
The Duke and Duchess spent the afternoon at Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club, watching and learning how to play the game of Hurling. Members from the club’s under 10’s team showed the couple the ropes, before they had their own turn!
The short trip to Ireland helped foster relations between the two nations. The couple, as always, worked hard, and met a range of people, but also kept a key focus on their charitable endeavours of mental health and the environment, as well as carrying out their constitutional duties. Well done to the Duke and Duchess!