Princess opens new embassy building

THE official ceremony took less than five minutes. The ambassador said a few words. The princess pulled a string and the plaque was unveiled. It recorded that she had officially opened the new British embassy building.

A waiter arrived with a tray and glasses, and the British ambassador, Veronica Sutherland, introduced Princess Anne to a posse of beaming politicians, smiling clergymen, and a few men in Garda and Army uniforms.

With that, the reporters were told to get lost, very diplomatically, of course, except for one or two hacks who'd managed to get a gilt edged invitation to the formal opening by the Princess Royal of the new British embassy on Merrion Road, Dublin.

That meant that they could hang on afterwards for the undoubted pleasure of seeing the various dignitaries being introduced to the princess.

Among the happy faces were the Minister for Justice, Nora Owen; the Fianna Fail leader, Bertie Ahern, and his deputy, Mary O'Rourke; the PD leader, Mary Harney; the two archbishops of Dublin, Dr Donald Caird and Dr Desmond Connell, and the soon to retire Dublin city manager, Frank Feely, who appeared to offer his opinion of the architecture when he was presented.

Princess Anne was wearing a blazer, frilly blouse and kilt, in support of the Scottish rugby team which plays Ireland today at Lansdowne Road.

Mrs Sutherland welcomed her royal visitor and said that, despite initial hesitations, "public reaction to this building has been increasingly positive". The princess smiled at this.

The ambassador continued: "It not only makes a contribution to Dublin as a modern capital of a new, vital Ireland, but it is also a potent symbol of the revitalised friendship between our two countries. Relations between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are indeed at an all time high."

Outside, a few Sinn Fein protesters gathered across the road from the embassy to clatter bin lids on the ground and demonstrate at the visit of "Miss Windsor as Dublin councillor Christy Burke referred to the eighth in line to the British throne.

He was obviously not impressed with the embassy either. "This building is an image of the conflict that has gone on in this country for the past 25 years", he said. "We will take any opportunity open to us to expose the failure of the British government to set a date for all party talks."

Earlier yesterday two men were arrested after they attempted to scale the fence of the embassy. They were taken to Donnybrook Garda station, but were later released without charge. Gardai said that a file would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There were no reported sightings of the so called stalker who is allegedly obsessed with the Princess Royal.