THE President, Mrs Robinson, is to make the first official visit to Britain by an Irish president next week, according to British press reports. She will arrive in London on Tuesday and leave on Friday.
The British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, and the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, agreed in December that Mrs Robinson should make an official visit.
She is scheduled to meet the Prince of Wales on Tuesday and on the following day have lunch in Downing Street with Mr Major. Later in the day, she will tend a white tie dinner in the City, hosted by the Lord Mayor of London.
On Thursday, Mrs Robinson will lunch with the queen in Buckingham Palace.
That evening she will attend a dinner hosted by the Lord Chancellor at Lancaster House before attending a ecumenical service on Friday in York Minster at which the sermon will be preached by the Archbishop of York, Dr Hope.
The invitation to Mrs Robinson was extended by Mr Major.