Royals In The Emerald Isle - The Cambridges In Ireland

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently visited Ireland for a three-day royal tour highlighting the country’s cultural connections to the United Kingdom and taking them through Dublin, County Meath, County Kildare, and Galway…

In early March the bulk of Royal media attention was centred on the final public engagements of Prince Harry and Meghan. But in the meantime it was business as usual for future king Prince William and his wife Catherine as they set off on a three-day tour of Ireland.

The couple flew over on a commercial Aer Lingus flight alongside dozens of residents returning home, business travellers and tourists. Arriving at Dublin International Airport, they walked down the aircraft’s steps and were greeted by a small group of dignitaries led by Britain’s Ambassador to Ireland, Robin Barnett.

Always the style icon, the Duchess paid tribute to the Emerald Isle with her carefully chosen outfit, a double-breasted dark green coat by British designer Catherine Walker with a printed dress from Alessandra Rich underneath. Accessorising with a matching clutch bag from LK Bennett and her Emmy London court shoes, she also wore a padded headband and diamond earrings from Asprey London.

The Duke and Duchess then joined President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne for afternoon tea, at Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland. Along with traditional Irish Barry’s Tea, the visitors were treated to shamrock shortbread, oat biscuits and lemon drizzle cake made by the in-house chef.

During their meeting with the President, the Duke and Duchess got to ring the Peace Bell in the beautiful rural grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin. Dating from the 19th Century, the bell is suspended from oak trunks which came from Co Antrim and Co Dublin. The bell was installed in the garden of the grand 18th-century house in 2008, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement.

The couple held the gold rope together, pulling it three times before being given a clap.