Princess Diana confirmed an “obvious ignorance of, or disregard for” Northern Ireland being distinct from Ireland, in response to a newly unsealed observe from an envoy written in 1993.
Joseph Small, the then Irish ambassador in London, wrote the declare about the then Princess of Wales in a briefing doc earlier than President Mary Robinson’s go to to Buckingham Palace.
“Whenever we meet Prince Charles, he invariably says that he would love to visit Ireland,” Mr Small’s observe dated 21 May 1993, mentioned.
“He is, of course, a regular visit (sic) to Northern Ireland. Princess Diana has also been there.
“Early final 12 months she mentioned to me, with apparent ignorance of, or disregard for, constitutional niceties: ‘I used to be in your nation yesterday!'”
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Other unsealed paperwork present that the Irish president Patrick Hillery’s resolution to say no an invite to the marriage of Charles and Diana sparked concern from officers in June 1981.
A briefing observe on how to answer the invite requested whether or not a reply needs to be issued after the Irish basic election, or whether or not it might be “discourteous” to take action.
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The observe additionally thought of that because it was a “negative” reply, “it would seem desirable to offer a diplomatic excuse”, as no first rate purpose being given may very well be “misinterpreted both domestically and internationally”.
“The press will certainly ask the reason for the non-attendance,” it added.
The wedding ceremony invites have been issued a month after IRA prisoner Bobby Sands died following a 66-day-long starvation strike, whereas campaigning to be handled as a political prisoner.
Source: information.sky.com”