King Charles welcomed Irish President Catherine Connolly to Buckingham Palace this afternoon, marking a significant moment in her inaugural official visit to England.
The monarch and Ms Connolly were photographed exchanging handshakes and warm smiles during their audience at the palace.
Speaking to reporters after, Ms Connolly described the meeting, which lasted almost an hour, as "wonderful".
She also revealed she invited the King to visit Ireland, one in which he "graciously accepted". This would mark just the second such visit by a British monarch to Ireland since its independence.
This three-day trip represents the President's first journey to England since taking office following her November inauguration, during which she emphasised her dedication to connecting with Irish communities abroad.
The visit encompasses engagements across both London and Leeds, reflecting the breadth of Irish presence throughout Britain.
It marks Ms Connolly's third official overseas engagement since assuming the presidency, having previously travelled to Northern Ireland and Spain.
Prior to her Palace trip, the President visited the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London, where she addressed attendees and observed an Irish language class in progress.
King Charles welcomed Irish President Catherine Connolly to Buckingham Palace this afternoon, marking a significant moment in her inaugural official visit to England
|PA
During her speech, Ms Connolly celebrated the extensive influence of Irish people across British life.
"The Irish contribution to British society is as diverse as can be imagined," she said.
"From the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services."
She declared that "hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life" remains untouched by Irish influence in Britain.
The President also reflected on historical migration patterns, noting that economic circumstances drove waves of Irish emigration to London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham from the nineteenth century onwards.
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The monarch and Ms Connolly were photographed exchanging handshakes and warm smiles during their audience at the palace
|PA
Catherine Connolly revealed she invited the King to visit Ireland, something he 'graciously accepted'
|PA
Aengus Collins O'Malley, 49, who teaches history lessons on Michael Collins at the centre, said it was great to see the president "reaching out to the Irish diaspora".
"She is our head of state and she is an individual who is known for promoting the Irish language," he added.
Oisin Moroney, 21, who performed traditional Irish dance for the President, described feeling nervous beforehand but said the anxiety vanished once he began.
"We were growing up as Irish as you could be without growing up in Ireland," the Hammersmith-born dancer remarked.
This evening, Irish Ambassador Martin Fraser and his wife Deirdre Fraser are hosting a reception at the Irish embassy in London to honour Ms Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery.
Tomorrow's schedule takes the President to the Chelsea Flower Show, which is where multiple members of the Royal Family attended this evening, followed by a visit to the London Irish Centre in Camden.
The trip concludes on Wednesday with engagements in Yorkshire, where Ms Connolly will tour Leeds University and the Leeds Irish Centre.
During her time in Leeds, she will receive a briefing on the Irish Health Centre's work and meet representatives from Irish community organisations across the region.
The visit underscores the enduring bonds between Britain and Ireland, with the President's itinerary spanning cultural, academic and community institutions throughout England.