Britain's Prince Charles is due to spend St Valentine's Day in Ireland, indulging his love of fauna and wildlife in the Burren in Co Clare, it has emerged.
Preparations involving the Department of Foreign Affairs and the British embassy in Dublin are still underway for the visit, which could last up to three days.
An official from Buckingham Palace was in Dublin on Thursday for discussions about the visit by the prince, who has visited Dublin once before.
So far it is unknown if the prince will be accompanied by his partner, Ms Camilla Parker-Bowles, though the couple's relationship has become progressively more open.
Once described as a man who talks to plants, the ecologically-minded prince has had a desire to see the Burren's store of unique plants for many years. His visit in 1995 was a significant event in the developing relationship between the Republic and the United Kingdom.
Deeply unhappy yesterday that news of the visit had leaked out, the British embassy said: "If you print it we would be extremely displeased and we will protest about it. And the visit will be off."
The heir to the throne's plan to visit Ireland last year was cancelled because of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK.
The Prince is expected to visit the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Co Wicklow, to officially open a new extension.
