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Queen Elizabeth refuses to turn Buckingham Palace green for St. Patrick’s Day

British monarch says she holds real affection for Ireland since 2011 State Visit

IrishCentral Staff Writers,

Published Saturday, March 2, 2013, 7:02 AM

Updated Saturday, March 2, 2013, 7:02 AM

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Queen Elizabeth II photographed in green at the Ascot Racecourse - Monarch has declined Ireland's invitation to go greet for St. Patrick's Day

Photo by Getty

Queen Elizabeth has declined Tourism Ireland’s request to light Buckingham Palace green for St Patrick’s Day, as part of an international celebrations of Ireland’s patron saint.

In a letter to the marketing body the Queen said that her decision to not take part did not take away from the special affection she has for the country and the people of Ireland, especially since her historic State Visit, in 2011.

The Tourism Ireland initiative will see iconic landmarks around the world including the Empire State Building, Christ the Redeemer in Rio and even the Pyramids in Egypt turning green for St Patrick’s Day, March 17th.

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said tweeted saying they had received a "lovely letter" from Buckingham Palace.

He tweeted "Her Majesty has sent 'good wishes to all those in Tourism Ireland working hard to promote the many attractions of Ireland north and south'”

"While not lighting green on 17 March, the Queen's 'special affection for Ireland' (was) noted."

PHOTOS – Check it out the world’s iconic tourist spots “go green” for St. Patrick’s Day

See more: Irish Roots , Irish History , St Patrick's Day

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87 Comments

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IrelandNorth | Mar 06, 2013, 02:28 PM EST

Very little point in greening any civic building anywhere in Ireland when her soul is in Irish-America. A metaphysical point borne out every year by a stampede of Irish government ministers jockeying for a junket to the good ol' USof A. Nationalist Ireland isn't dead and gone. Or with O'Leary in the grave. It's with Irish-America in The States. So tune-in. Turn-on. And drop-out. And pass the shamrock spiff, Maan!

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Seanmor | Mar 06, 2013, 09:14 AM EST

I'm reminded of the St. Patrick's Day in the late 1950s when President Eisenhower, sporting a GREEN tie, warmly greeted Seán T. O'Kelly, who was wearing a 'regular' tie A rather surprised Ike asked his guest why his tie wasn't green. This was his answer: "I wear green in my heart". It is unreasonable of anyone to expect England's queen to make her palace more Irish that any government building in the Free State.

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curtisjohnson | Mar 06, 2013, 01:13 AM EST

Read it - but you're making a category error if you are requesting proof of the metaphysical through mechanical science.

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anglo-norman | Mar 05, 2013, 10:04 PM EST

curtisjohnson- Give me evidence

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curtisjohnson | Mar 05, 2013, 08:18 PM EST

Anglo-Norman, if you are serious, read "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. Strobel is a former atheist and Yale Law School graduate who performed a thorough investigation and analysis. Of course, you will never find mechanical scientific proof of a metaphysical concept if that is what you're looking for.

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anglo-norman | Mar 05, 2013, 07:30 PM EST

StevenStar- But I get a great kick out of you son...

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seanomelb | Mar 05, 2013, 05:33 PM EST

misswhip I do not believe in gods there are to many of them and all religions belive their God is the true god. I prefer to be a humanist and not believe in any mythological gods.

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IrelandNorth | Mar 05, 2013, 02:51 PM EST

Buckingham Palace isn't where the action is. Ulster Television (UTV) 6 pm news this evening report Belfast City Council having voted to floodlight City Hall in green for Saint Patrick's Day - from next year! Also, in purple and orange (Buddhist colours?) for the Glorious 12th. Red and white for - Poland Day! And red and yellow for Chinese New Year. Problem solved by all the honourable councillors in situ. I knew they'd come to their senses.

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STEVENSTAR | Mar 05, 2013, 01:16 PM EST

ANGLO >>> YOU NEED TO GET A SENSE OF HUMOR.. I APPRECIATE ITS VERY DULL AND DREARY UP THERE IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND BUT THATS NO EXCUSE FOR YOU TO BE GOING ON AND ON WHINGEING EVERY DAY... THINK ABOUT THE REST OF US ? WE DONT WANT TO BE LISTENING TO YOUR OULD SMARMY COMMENTS DAY IN DAY OUT.. UNLESS OF COURSE YOU SAY SOMETHING NICE FOR A CHANGE OR AT LEAST CRACK AN OULD JOKE MATE.. AS READING YOUR POSTS ARE DEPRESSING ENOUGH .. YOU NEVER HAVE A GOOD THING TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE.....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> COURSE THE QUEEN SHOULDNT PAINT HER HOME GREEN FOR PADDIES DAY .. IM IRISH AND I WOULDNT DREAM OF DOING IT MYSELF...

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Stiofain | Mar 05, 2013, 12:57 PM EST

Why on earth should she turn the palace green? Her ancestry is not Irish, it's German.

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adrienrain | Mar 05, 2013, 12:05 PM EST

1. Irish-American-ness IS a culture of its own, derived from the immigrant/exile experience, and needs no permission from the 'mother country' to justify its existence. As former president of the Celtic Arts Center in Los Angeles, I met many bands from Ireland who expressed amazement at the music and atmosphere and general craic we built, both recent Irish, Scottish and Welsh immigrants and those whose families have been in the US for generations. There are Celtic descendants in clusters all over the world - still cherishing traditional music and dance, theater and literature. In spite of a few peculiar snobs, I should think that Irish citizens appreciate them, if for nothing else, their tourist dollars and export market. 2. Does Ireland need the validation of a foreign monarch, whose titles and inheritance are entirely unwarranted by any virtue of her own, for some reason? Be proud my blood brothers and sisters of Ireland, that you need not cater to royalty now.

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warrenpoint00 | Mar 05, 2013, 11:24 AM EST

Woof,woof. Woof,woof,woof. Can someone take this "bitch" to heel, before she bites.

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sully1167 | Mar 05, 2013, 09:05 AM EST

STEVENSTAR, I agree with you that the Queen should not have to paint Buckingham Palace Green, she is after all English. However, I take issue with you saying that people of Irish descent living abroad are not Irish. Yes they may not be culturally Irish, but still Irish by blood. The country one resides in just determines citizenship. Black Americans may be culturally different from Black Africans, but are still Black. Same with French Canadians, Cajuns and European French.

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anglo-norman | Mar 04, 2013, 10:55 PM EST

Oh an amputee growing one of his limbs back. A person cured of terminal cancer..etc

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curtisjohnson | Mar 04, 2013, 09:02 PM EST

What would you be looking for in terms of evidence?

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