Kings Charles III has been invited for a state visit to Ireland next year.
The monarch has "graciously accepted" an invitation to visit Ireland next year by President Catherine Connolly, marking the second visit by a British monarch to Ireland since Independence. Previously, Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth II paid a state visit to Ireland in 2011.
In 2014, President Michael D Higgins paid a state visit to the UK, a first such visit by a President of Ireland.
This comes after President Connolly and King Charles met at Buckingham Palace yesterday, as part of her three day visit to the UK, a meeting which she described as "wonderful", adding that the pair had a lot in common regarding the environment.
"King Charles knows Ireland well and has been a positive voice for peace and reconciliation", President Connolly said in a statement.
She went on to add that King Charles "will receive the warmest of welcomes [to Ireland] and this will represent a further deepening of our relationship as neighbours and as friends".
Further details regarding this visit will be worked out in consultation between the two governments.
President Connolly had been speaking at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, where she said that some Irish people are leaving Ireland over the lack of housing, and went on to speak about the copious amounts of Irish people who left Ireland for Britain in 1950s and 1980s.
Paying tribute to the contributions made by Irish immigrants to British society, 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", she said. "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".
She also paid homage to 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.
