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The king was struck by bird poop 💩

President Catherine Connolly has invited King Charles to Ireland next year for a State visit, which the President said he has "graciously accepted".

It will be the second State visit by a British monarch to Ireland since independence. Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, paid a State Visit to Ireland in 2011.

This was followed by a State visit to the UK by President Michael D. Higgins in 2014, in what was the first such visit by an Irish president.

President Connolly was meeting Charles at Buckingham Palace as part of her three-day visit to the UK.

The meeting lasted over half an hour.

Speaking after the meeting, President Connolly said the meeting was "wonderful", saying the two had a lot in common in relation to the environment.

President Connolly also said in a statement: "King Charles knows Ireland well and has been a positive voice for peace and reconciliation."

She said she was sure that Charles "will receive the warmest of welcomes and this will represent a further deepening of our relationship as neighbours and as friends".

Details of the visit will be worked out in consultation with the two governments.

Earlier, President Connolly said some Irish people are leaving Ireland because of a lack of housing, and spoke about the waves of people who left Ireland for Britain in the 1950s and 1980s.

She said during this period, unemployment and economic stagnation pushed many to leave for better opportunities abroad.

Speaking at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith,, she paid tribute to the contribution Irish immigrants have made to British society.

The President said there was "hardly a sector" of the economy or an area of life in Britain that has not been touched by the Irish.

President Connolly said: "The Irish contribution to British society is as diverse as can be imagined.

"From the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.

"Indeed, there is hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life that has not been touched by the Irish here in Britain."

President Connolly also highlighted the centre's work in promoting the Irish language and its music.

"Language gives us a powerful sense of home. As President, it fills me with pride to see the interest that so many show in our beautiful language," she said.

The Irish ambassador to Britain Martin Fraser and Deirdre Fraser will host a reception this evening in honour of President Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery, at the Irish embassy in London.

The visit will continue tomorrow when the president visits the Chelsea Flower Show and the London Irish Centre in Camden.

It will conclude on Wednesday with visits to Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.

In Leeds, President Connolly will be briefed on the work of the Irish Health Centre there and will also meet representatives of other Irish centres in the region.

It is the third official visit the president has undertaken since commencing her term of office, following visits to Northern Ireland and Spain.

So a few days ago I posted on here absolutely bricking it about attending a Buckingham Palace Garden Party as a regular bloke with no idea what to expect. You lot were incredible the advice, the comments, the DMs I was genuinely overwhelmed. Some of you even gave me specific tips on where to stand and how to navigate the day.
Here’s your update. And I promise it’s worth it.
I went. And I got lucky.
Out of roughly 4,000 people there I somehow found myself standing face to face with His Majesty King Charles III. Just him no Queen Camilla, no other royals. Solo. Walking through the crowd like a man who owns the place. Which technically he does.
He shook my hand. He looked me in the eye. He spoke to me personally and said he was enormously proud of all the work being done and that there was no adequate way to thank everyone. What struck me most was how genuinely humble he was. This is the King of England and yet the warmth, the sincerity, the way he carried himself it felt completely real. No performance. No formality. Just a man who genuinely meant every word he said. Truly one of the most down to earth people I have ever spoken to. For someone in his position that is honestly exceptional.
To whoever told me to explore the gardens at the back first before the crowds gathered absolute genius advice. The gardens were stunning and coming back later meant I was in a much better position when it mattered. I genuinely think that made all the difference. You know who you are. 🙏
On the food look, it was good. But legendary? The stuff of myths? Not quite. Manage your expectations on that front and luckily enough I wore a simple lounge suit which ended up a great idea as there was no one not even his majesty himself wearing a morning suit except one guy with tall hat too. I’m glad I wasn’t that guy.

Oh and the guest list. Helen Mirren, Idris Elba, Damian Lewis, Ant and Dec, Myleene Klass and Carl Cox were all there. Simon Cowell was apparently there too though I never spotted him. Probably busy giving someone a no. 😭

I also came home with a personal card signed “CHARLES R.” with a watercolour painting of Balmoral Estate on the front painted by the King himself. I’m still not entirely sure this is real life.
To everyone who helped me on that first post thank you. Genuinely. You made this day even more special.
I don’t have words. I am the first in my whole family to ever experience something this extraordinary. It’s genuinely a pleasure and something to remember for years to come.

>"Plans are being made for the Prince and Princess to attend William’s glittering Earthshot Awards in Mumbai, while also taking on a politically sensitive trip to the capital Delhi."

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