Concern about ‘superiority’ of royal yacht visiting Ireland in 1996

With HMS Britannia sailing behind, Charles stands on the stones of the Giant’s Causeway, Co Antrim (John Stillwell/PA) - (PA Archive)

Concern was expressed about the image of “superiority” that would be conveyed by the royal yacht arriving into Irish harbours as part of a mooted visit in the summer of 1996.

A possible three-day trip to Ireland by the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, was discussed by British and Irish officials in March before it was abandoned due to security concerns.