Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will begin a State visit to Ireland on Wednesday as they travel to explore Waterford and Tipperary.
The visit is expected to generate huge income for Irish tourism as people swarm to the area to catch a glimpse of the royal couple and travel to Ireland to follow in their footsteps over the summer months.
Public engagements will take place on Thursday and Friday when Charles and Camilla visit various sites in the two counties.
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A major security operation is in place with British royal protection officers teaming up with gardai and diplomatic protection corps officials to ensure the safety of the socialites.
The location of the visits have not been released for security reasons. However, it is believed the heir and his wife will visit locations regarding their interest and passions from heritage, farming, gardens, architecture, equestrian sport, arts, crafts and community development.
Waterford and Tipperary are hopeful that the visit will see a tourism boom like that observed in Cashel and Cork following the high-profile state visit by Queen Elizabeth II, in 2011.
The Queen’s visit to the English Market in Cork city gathered such attention that that special arrangements had to be put in place to cope with visitor numbers for many year after the event.
Prince Charles and Camilla’s visit will be the royals first overseas visit this year after they contracted Covid earlier in 2022 and were unable to travel.
It is expected Prince Charles will visit Cahir Castle and the Rock of Cashel while a visit to nearby Coolmore Stud owned by John Magnier is also on the cards.
While it is a State visit, the couple are not expected to visit Aras An Uachtarain to meet President Michael D Higgins and are said to have no plans to travel to Dublin on this occasion.
The visit will see another two counties ticked off Prince Charles list as he previously expressed a wish to visit every county in Ireland.
On previous visits to the country, the prince and the duchess separated to visit places.
In May 2019 Prince Charles and Camilla visited Co. Wicklow where he visited Glendalough and the botanic gardens at Kilmacurragh, while the duchess visited Avoca Handweavers in Avoca and a women’s refuge in Bray.
There is some speculation the prince and his wife might stay at Cahir Castle, which is managed by the OPW and is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles.
The castle is situated on a rocky island on the River Suir. However, Lismore Castle in Co Waterford has also been mentioned as a possible accommodation.
The castle is the property of the Duke of Devonshire, a wealthy British aristocratic family which was also related to the family of American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, while President Kennedy stayed there in 1963.
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