IT was the worst kept secret in Kerry for the past month but now all has been officially revealed.
The itinerary for the visit of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall has been confirmed, putting an end to all the speculation and giving the public an accurate snapshot of what is happening.
Some authorities were at pains – and under instruction – to deny that the visit was actually happening with queries being ignored and journalists being fobbed off. In one hilarious incident, a local publication acting on a hot tip-off published a breathless “exclusive” claiming that despite media reports, it was all mere speculation and nothing was official.
So here are the facts:
Charles and Camilla arrived in Ireland today and will stay until Friday. They will be in Kerry on the last day when their Royal Highnesses will visit Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell and, later, they will attend a performance at Siamse Tire in Tralee.
On Friday afternoon the Prince and Duchess will visit Muckross House and Gardens in a high-security private capacity before they attend a garden party at Killarney House where they will be inducted into the Order of Innisfallen, which recognises outstanding contributions to the local economy by people from outside Kerry.
That honour will be in recognition of the enormous contribution of the British people to the tourism industry in Killarney for generations and the presentation will be made by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher, and the President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Paul O’Neill.
A vert selective invitation list to the garden party was drawn up and all invitees – mainly representing local organisations – had to agree to Garda vetting in advance.
On their arrival to Ireland their Royal Highnesses are undertaking a range of engagements in the north, including visiting Omagh as part of commemorations on the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb and calling to the University of Ulster Coleraine.
They will pay a two-day visit to Cork where they will be greeted with a civic reception at City Hall, attend a dinner to celebrate connections between the UK and Ireland and visit University College Cork to meet students and view cultural and historic treasures from the university’s collection.
The Prince will later visit the National Maritime College of Ireland and go on board an Irish Navy Service vessel to showcase the close maritime links between the two nations and to celebrate the flourishing strategic defence relationship.
The Duchess of Cornwall, meanwhile, will visit a local refuge for women and children who have suffered domestic violence and she will also visit the Irish National Guide Dogs Training Centre.
Made at the request of the British Government, the Royal visit will highlight the partnership and friendship between the two nations. This is the fourth visit Charles and Camilla have made to Ireland in as many years and Buckingham Palace says it offers a further opportunity to celebrate the enduring nature of the relationship.
For more information on the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, visit www.princeofwales.gov.uk.
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