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Diplomat 'hopeful' of Queen visit

The out-going British ambassador to Ireland has said he is "very hopeful" that the Queen will visit the Republic "before too long".

Speaking to the Irish Times David Reddaway said: "I hope it'll happen soon."

It has previously been indicated that such a visit is likely to happen only after the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland.

Mr Reddaway said Anglo-Irish relations had been "transformed."

He told the Irish Times, "we are no longer defined by what divides us" and are instead "defined by the advantages of working together and what we have in common".

Mr Reddaway will leave his post at the end of the month, after three years.

He is moving to Ankara where he takes up the position of British ambassador to Turkey.

Last year Irish President Mary McAleese said a Royal visit to the Republic was "significantly closer" but was "dependent on the completion of devolution."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8204969.stm

I think it would be fabulous :)

I don't think most people could care less, to be honest.

Could'nt care less like the vast majority.

I don't think Ireland could afford it? Where would she stay :0

She'd stay at either the British ambassadorial residence or the Presidential Residence, more likely the latter as she would be a guest of the President.

i think it'd be great to have her. but yiz are right, most people wont care either way

No plank, Ireland cannot afford it. I do not care at all about the visit apart from the financial implications. If she wants to visit, as a very wealthy woman, she can pay for the entire thing herself, then imho she is more than welcome, but Ireland is broke and cannot and should not spend millions on otherwise unnecessary security and pomp.

There's nothing like a good Irish welcome to visitors, eh?

She can fly over on one of those cheap Ryanair flights and I'm sure the locals will tell her the best place to get pissed.

Anyway, I thought Freddie Mercury was dead.... :p