After 14 years in Áras An Uachtaráin, Michael D Higgins is well into the not-long-now phase of his presidency.
not everyone says it when they meet him, but it’s what they are thinking.On Wednesday morning, as journalists gathered in the State Reception Room in advance of a courtesy call from the United Kingdom’s Princess Anne, the impending arrival of a new tenant in the President of Ireland’s official residence concentrated minds.
Some were already feeling a bit nostalgic for the Michael D days.”Not long to go now,” they sighed, before joining the speculation over his successor.
His term of office ends officially in early November. And a date for the presidential election has yet to be announced, but the pre-race rumour mill is now running at full silly season tilt.
Not long now.
British media outlets were describing the visit as possibly Michael D’s last engagement with a “senior royal”.
Princess Anne was in town to visit the Dublin Horse Show, so she took the chance to nip up to the Phoenix Park to pay her respects, like her mother did before her during that historic state visit in 2011.
It was a very low-key affair, but statements released afterwards by the Áras and the british embassy underscored what ambassador paul Johnston called “the deep and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Ireland”.
even though we might potentially be a proud Republic, the royal family across the water has long been a rich source of gossipy fascination and diverse entertainment.And of that extended Windsor clan, Princess Anne (she turns 75 in a week and a half) seems to be viewed as a generally sound, no-nonsense, hard-working member of the firm. There was a lot of media interest in her visit.
She was greeted on arrival by orla O’Hanrahan, secretary general to the President, who escorted the Princess Royal to the door of the State reception room via the Francini corridor, where Michael D and his wife Sabina were waiting, along with a small media pack corralled down the back.Anne barrelled in, smiling, her black leather shoulder bag tucked under her oxter. Following the example of other female royals when they visit the Emerald Isle, she wore a longline linen blazer and skirt in contrasting shades of green.
Michael D pointed to the gold broach on her lapel. “That’s very appropriate,” he said.
It was hard to see it from the back of the room.
What was it?
Maybe a little bottle of stout, what with Guinness’s brewery only across the river.
Or perhaps a deer eating a bag of crisps, as we were in the Phoenix Park.
It was a horse. No surprise there.
Princess Anne concluded her visit by carefully placing her pen back into her bag, tucking it under her arm, and then replacing her glove.
The President, his wife Sabina, and Princess Anne posed for photographs in front of the desk.
Conversation flowed easily.
While Princess Anne didn’t explicitly say, “Not long now,” to the departing Higginses, she did observe that Michael D. has been in office “quite a long time.”
“Fourteen years,” he replied stoically.
“But not for much longer,” added Sabina.
The extensive gardens visible through the French windows looked stunning.The Higginses expressed they will miss them. Beautiful floral arrangements of large dahlias brought the summer indoors.
“Do you spend all your time here?” asked Princess Anne, referencing the numerous large residences within her family.
“All the time,” said Michael D.
“All the time,” echoed Sabina.
“It’s a nice spot,” replied Princess Anne.
They moved to the President’s study for a private meeting before the two entourages briefly convened in the drawingroom.
“It was a pleasure to renew my conversations with Her Royal Highness princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and to recognize the notable contribution which she has made over so many years to the relationship between our two countries,” said the President afterward.