Catherine Connolly to meet King Charles during UK visit

By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

The President of Ireland has begun a three-day visit to the UK in which she is expected to meet the King.

Catherine Connolly is making her first official visit to England since her inauguration in November, when she spoke about her commitment to engaging with the Irish diaspora.

Her three-day trip began on Monday with a visit to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she will deliver an address and meet those participating in an Irish language class.

She will also view musical and dance performances.

Connolly is also expected to have an engagement with Charles.

The Irish ambassador to Britain Martin Fraser and Deirdre Fraser will host a reception on Monday evening in honour of President Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery, at the Irish embassy in London.

The visit will continue on Tuesday when the president visits the Chelsea Flower Show and the London Irish Centre in Camden.

It will conclude on Wednesday with visits to Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.

In Leeds, President Connolly will be briefed on the work of the Irish Health Centre there and will also meet representatives of other Irish centres in the region.

It is the third official visit the president has undertaken since commencing her term of office, following visits to Northern Ireland and Spain.