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Queen’s Irish visit was a ‘major turning point’ in her life says Prince William

New documentary celebrates British monarch’s tour of Ireland

By
PATRICK COUNIHAN,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, February 6, 2012, 7:35 AM
Updated Monday, February 6, 2012, 11:26 AM

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Queen Elizabeth with President Mary McAleese at the Garden of Rememberance in Dublin
Queen Elizabeth with President Mary McAleese at the Garden of Rememberance in Dublin
Photo by Google Images


The Queen’s visit to Ireland last year marked a ‘huge turning point’ in her life according to her grandson Prince William.

The claim is made in a new three-part BBC documentary, 'Diamond Queen,' to be aired on Monday nights.

The programme, to celebrate the British Monarch’s 60th year in power, details the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Ireland.

Prince William talks at length in the documentary about the effect of last year’s Irish visit on the English Queen.

“The political tensions that stopped her travelling to Ireland left her like a child not allowed to go into a certain room,” claims Prince William.

“Last year’s visit to Ireland marked a huge turning point for her and bolstered the relationship between London and Dublin forged during the peace process.

“Until that point Ireland had always been off limits for my grandmother.

“It’s like a door that’s been locked to her for a long time and she’s been dying to see what’s on the other side of it.

“Many people won’t understand not being able to go somewhere or see something for your life and being almost like a child not allowed to go into a certain room.
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“She’d always wanted to go in an official capacity so I think it was a huge turning point for her.”

The second episode of the programme, to be aired next week, features Irish and British Prime Ministers Enda Kenny and David Cameron according to the Irish Independent.

Conservative Party leader Cameron applauds the Queen for travelling to Ireland as soon as she was able, despite his own apprehensions.

He says: “I was nervous about it but I was hugely admiring of the fact that the royal family wanted to go ahead with this visit relatively quickly after the finalising of the last bits of devolution of power to Northern Ireland.

“They didn’t want to wait and I thought that was a fantastic judgment.”

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23 Comments

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IrelandNorth | Feb 08, 2012, 07:30 AM EST
"A room with locked doors"? Interesting Freudian metaphor. Still, as a one time member of the official 'Oglaigh na h'Eireann,' I do actually welcome EIIR's visit to the greater part of Ireland. And Her visit to the Garden of Rememberance was a particularly humbling experinece. I never would have thought that a British Monarch could do humility. So, go raibh maith agat, Banrion Eilish a do. A reunited Ireland will bring Ireland as a whole closer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, to facilitate Ulster's 1m Britonians

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Searlit | Feb 07, 2012, 09:44 PM EST
@Portia777, can you explain about Cashel. I wasn't sure what the trip to Cashel was about. It did seem political. I know it was the seat of the Munster kings and it is a strikingly beautiful site.

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dibble2008 | Feb 07, 2012, 09:28 AM EST
And it went very well and we irish were glad to receive her and move on from the past.

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talbot77 | Feb 06, 2012, 10:52 PM EST
Mary McAleese said it best . . can't change the past But we can choose the future and that was best said by John Lennon . . 'I say Peace'

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Murph46 | Feb 06, 2012, 09:22 PM EST
Here's a toast to the Queen-Here's to the Queen-f... the Queen!

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faberm1 | Feb 06, 2012, 08:56 PM EST
The Queen is doing her best to ameliorate the dastardly deeds of her predecessors. Maith a bhean sí! I think Ireland needs to stay focused on the here and now, and not be obsessed with the past. It's the best way to progress on into the future. Staying fixated on the past will rob Ireland of its present and future.

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peterson | Feb 06, 2012, 06:41 PM EST
God Bless the Queen !!Long Live the Queen !!

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peterson | Feb 06, 2012, 06:40 PM EST
Long Live the Queen !! --- and God Bless her !!

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donal1951 | Feb 06, 2012, 03:19 PM EST
The Queen obeying an order from the Pope, as Portia suggest, is hogwash. The Pope can't get his own flock of Roman Catholics to listen to him, not his fault, more so the stubbornness of the sheep. Queen Elizabeth II is the leader of the Church of England, which is not affiliated with Rome. While she may admire the Pope and he her, neither is going to obey the other's commands.

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jamieLM | Feb 06, 2012, 03:09 PM EST
Nothing the Queen can say or do will change the past or will be enough to satisfy those who are filled with anger, hatred, and bitterness over past (English) grievous acts in Irish history. Hating and despising the Queen won't help those who died long ago, either. I'm with jjkleprechaun.

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Sparklet | Feb 06, 2012, 02:20 PM EST
Sirpeter, I suppose you might say that she was fed, and swallowed, the cover-up, and wasn't aware of the truth. I think of most of the royals as automatons anyway. I don't know how much they actually think about politics. Just accept what is. They have zero influence thanks to our dear friend Cromwell.

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SeamusMartin | Feb 06, 2012, 02:12 PM EST
Maybe, just maybe the visit might hasten the unification of the Emerald Isle. Orange, White, Green -- make reality from the dream! Blessed are the peacemakers.

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RedBranch | Feb 06, 2012, 01:57 PM EST
'...not allowed to go into a certain room'... Not her house!

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sirpeter | Feb 06, 2012, 01:46 PM EST
Well I think William made a good analogy.I'm glad granny got a chance to visit and it went well.It's just hard to feel affection for a woman who decorated those murdering soldiers who killed unarmed kids after Bloody Sunday.But I guess I must try.

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Sparklet | Feb 06, 2012, 12:51 PM EST
Portia, please say you were joking. Gave me a good laugh anyway.

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