King Charles welcomes Catherine Connolly during official Buckingham Palace visit
King Charles III welcomed Irish President Catherine Connolly during a special meeting at Buckingham Palace this week.
The British royal family shared an official photograph from the meeting on social media, showing Charles warmly greeting the Irish president during her visit to London and Leeds.
The trip marks Connolly’s first official visit to England since taking office in November.
Her visit began on Monday with an appearance at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she praised the longstanding contribution of Irish communities across Britain.
During her speech, Connolly said the Irish contribution to British society spans nearly every sector, including arts, culture, healthcare, education, construction, and scientific services.
She also reflected on the history of Irish migration to cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham, noting that economic pressures and housing shortages continue to drive people to leave Ireland today.
Connolly added that Irish migration has occurred in several waves throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and remains a significant social issue in modern times.
The visit comes shortly after Charles and Queen Camilla returned from their recent state visit to the United States.
