British queen to make first-ever state visit to Ireland

LONDON (AP)  Queen Elizabeth II will make her first-ever state visit to the Republic of Ireland later this year — the first British monarch to visit the island since 1911.

King George V spent six days in Dublin in 1911, when Britain and Ireland were united under a single crown. Ireland won its independence in 1922, but relations between Ireland and Britain remained poisoned by continuous arguments — and fighting — over the fate of Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom.

The 1998 Good Friday peace accord, which gave Northern Ireland a measure of self-government, went a long way toward healing the historic rift.

British Ambassador Julian King said the invitation "symbolizes how far the relationship has come in recent years; the strength of our economic and political ties; and the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland. "

"The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this, and build on the rich and varied links that exist across these islands," he said Friday.

The palace said in a statement that the 84-year-old queen would be accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The announcement came a week after Irish voters dealt the ruling Fianna Fail party a historic loss — the worst in nearly 80 years — and put the opposition Fine Gael party in power.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party are holding negotiations on forming a new coalition government faced with salvaging Ireland's debt-ravaged economy. Ireland is supposed to slash —15 billion ($21 billion) from its deficits by 2014 under terms of an international bailout that saved the country from bankruptcy.

Fianna Fail, whose founder Eamon de Valera led the fight for Irish independence 90 years ago, welcomed the visit, with party leader Micheal Martin calling it "another step in the journey of reconciliation."

Ireland's presidency confirmed the announcement and said details would be released later.

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