Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are to visit the Republic and Northern Ireland next month.

The announcement of the four-day visit was made in a statement issued from Clarence House in London.

In a statement this evening, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said he hopes the visit will be "an occasion to promote reconciliation, respect and understanding".

He added: "The visit by the British Queen to the Garden of Remembrance, her words of reconciliation and the subsequent meetings with Martin McGuinness demonstrated the potential of these events."

The itinerary is still being worked out but it is expected the trip will include a visit to Sligo and possibly Mullaghmore, where Prince Charles' great-uncle Lord Mountbatten died in an IRA attack in 1979.

The couple may also visit Lissadell House and Drumcliffe Church, where poet WB Yeats is buried.

In the statement, Clarence House confirms the Prince and his wife will visit Ireland and Northern Ireland from 19 to 22 May.

Prince Charles was in Northern Ireland last year and in 2013.

He has only been south of the border on official visits twice - in 1995 and in 2002.

The Prince met the then president Mary McAleese during his visit in 2002.

Next month's visit is being undertaken at the request of the British government.

It will be seen as the next phase of the process started when Queen Elizabeth paid her first State visit to Ireland in 2011 and President Michael D Higgins made what was the first State visit by an Irish President to Britain last year.

Prince Charles and his son Harry are expected to meet President Higgins during commemoration ceremonies in Gallipoli later this week.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan welcomed today's trip announcement.

"Following the reciprocal state visits of recent years, this visit to Ireland will represent a further expression of the warm and friendly relations which now exist between us," he said.

"We look forward to their arrival next month, and to a visit programme which reflects the quality of these relations."