HM Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022

Cashbook would like to join our customers, partners, and the rest of the world in sending our condolences to the Royal Family on the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II last week. Following a life of unyielding service, she was unquestionably one of the most culturally important people of the last 100 years and leaves an incredible legacy behind her.

In May of 2011, Queen Elizabeth II visited Ireland following an invite from then-Irish president Mary McAleese. Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland made history because it was the first time a British monarch had visited Ireland in 100 years. It was also the first since Ireland gained independence from Great Britain. The last visit was by Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, who visited in 1911, when the entire island of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The then-British Prime Minister David Cameron described the visit as “a huge step forward” following the settling of a lot of the political issues and difficulties that had divided the two countries.

In her hugely significant trip in 2011, The Queen visited the Government Buildings, The National War Memorial Gardens where the British monarch bowed her head as she laid a wreath for those who died fighting for Irish freedom. A state dinner was held at Dublin Castle with the President of Ireland, the Irish Prime Minister, and other notable dignitaries in attendance.

In the Queen’s speech at Dublin Castle, she opened it by speaking in Irish, which she was advised not to do by her team. However, the Queen saw it as important, and broke protocol, starting with “A Uachtaráin agus a chairde” which translates to English as “President and friends”. This was very well received by all those in attendance and by the people of Ireland themselves.

The Queen mentioned in her speech that past history was indeed difficult, regretful, and brutal at times, but that we should strive to build a more harmonious future, one that our grandparents could but dream of.

“Indeed so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, it is a sad and regrettable reality that throughout history our islands have faced heartache, turbulence, and loss.” The Queen added: “With the benefit of historical hindsight, we can all see things which we would wish would have been done differently, or not at all.”

The Queen finished off her speech with:

“These ties of family, friendship, and affection are our most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the partnership across these islands, a golden thread that runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we will go on to achieve. They are a reminder that we have much to do together to build a future for all our grandchildren: the kind of future our grandparents could only dream of. So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has served to make the relationship more harmonious, close as good neighbors should always be.”

Below are some other images from HM Queen Elizabeth II’s historic state visit to Ireland in 2011.

HM Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022, RIP.