Queen Elizabeth will not conduct any “spontaneous” walkabouts or hand-shaking with members of the public during her historic visit to the Republic which begins tomorrow.
Amid heightened security concerns that protest groups may seek to disrupt the visit, Government officials also said the “precise” time and duration of each leg of her four-day itinerary would be withheld for security reasons.
The royal flight is scheduled to touch down at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel at approximately noon.
Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, will be greeted on the tarmac by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore.
The British delegation will include foreign secretary William Hague and the British Ambassador to Ireland, Julian King.
Under tight security cordon, the royal motorcade will then proceed to Áras an Uachtaráin for the official State welcome.
The Queen and Prince Philip will be met on the steps of the Áras by President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin before being escorted inside and introduced to the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.
As part of the ceremonial welcome, the Queen will receive a 21-gun salute in the forecourt of the Áras which will be followed by a rendition of the British national anthem by a combined Irish Army band.
A detachment of the Army Air Corps will also perform a ceremonial fly by. The 85-year-old monarch will then will invited to inspect an Irish military guard of honour before attending a tree-planting ceremony in the Áras garden, in front of the peace bell which was placed there in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.
President McAleese will hold a brief bi-lateral meeting with the Queen before hosting a luncheon for both delegations in the main dining room.
Following the reception in Phoenix Park, the royal entourage will head to Dublin’s Parnell Square for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance at approximately 3.15pm.
In a hugely symbolic gesture, the Queen will observe a minute’s silence at the memorial to those who died fighting for Irish freedom.
The President and the Queen will be greeted and escorted around the memorial by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and the Irish Army Chief of Staff, Sean McCann.
The poem Rinneadh Aisling Duinn (We Saw A Vision), which is inscribed on the wall of the Garden of Remembrance, will be read aloud in Irish by Captain Joe Freeley, from the Second Infantry Battalion in Cathal Brugha Barracks at the event. Both national anthems will also be played again by an Irish Army band.
Gardaí have banned onlookers from the streets outside the destinations to be visited by the Queen, and tomorrow up to 30 streets in the city centre will be closed to traffic tomorrow.
After the Garden of Remembrance event, the Queen will visit Trinity College, founded by her predecessor Queen Elizabeth I in 1592.
The royal party will be formally welcomed at the college by Provost John Hegarty and the college chancellor and former president Mary Robinson before being escorted to the Book of Kells exhibition in old library building.
There will also be a reception in honour of the Queen in the Long Room where she and Prince Philip will meet Trinity dignitaries, scholars, musicians and artists, before being invited to sign the visitors’ book.
The royal pair will also greet students before departing in their motorcade en route to Farmleigh where they will repair for a private evening.
TUESDAY, MAY 17th
Arrival at Casement Aerodrome
Meeting President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin
Wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance
Trip to view Book of Kells at TCD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18th
“Windows” tour of Dublin at the Guinness Storehouse
Greeted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Government Buildings
Wreath-laying ceremony at the Irish National War Memorial Garden, Islandbridge
Visit to Croke Park
State dinner at Dublin Castle
THURSDAY, MAY 19th
Visit to National Stud Kildare
The Duke of Edinburgh to attend a reception at Farmleigh House with members of Gaisce – the President’s award
A celebration of the Queen’s visit at the Convention Centre Dublin
FRIDAY, MAY 20th
Tour of St Patrick’s Rock, Cashel
Visit to English Market in Cork
Visit to Tyndall National Institute, Cork
Departure from Cork airport
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