With the completion of the royal wedding, Britain's royals are taking full advantage of an opportunity to re-shape the world's image of them--and they are doing this by visiting key locations around the world.
One of the most controversial places on Queen Elizabeth's agenda is the Republic of Irleland, her present location. Ireland's government extended the invitation, but many citizens are displeased about the queen's presence in Ireland.
Why Are Many Irish Upset?
England and Ireland have an extremely troubled history. For over eight centuries, English monarchs attempted to annex and rule Ireland, usually by a combination of arms and oppression. During the Irish Potato Famine, England continued to export non-potato foods from Ireland, where Irish continued to starve.
The Irish had a civil war over whether to compromise with the United Kingdom. Anti-British sentiment still exists today, harbored by those who feel that the United Kingdom has no claim to the six northern counties that are technically part of it today.
Through the 20th century, the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and other sympathetic forces fought with arms, propaganda and even peace to see the six northern counties returned. The later incidents are called The Troubles, and many people still living remember them clearly.
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher was the three-term prime minister of England. She was in office from 1979-1990. Thatcher was known for being conservative and decisive, and she met the issue of politics in Ireland head on.
Thatcher considered drastic control measures such as refusing Irish citizens living in the UK the right to vote. President Jimmy Carter (of the US) also refused to allow an export of weapons from the United States to the UK because of how they were being used--many Americans felt that the UK's treatment of the Irish was a greivous human rights violation.
Thatcher refused to negotiate with the IRA--even when faced with the imminent deaths of imprisoned hunger strikers.
Queen Elizabeth, despite having limited influence, never spoke out against Thatcher or intervened on behalf of the Irish.
Feelings Today
Today, there are a variety of feelings towards the queen visiting Ireland. At least one bomb has been discovered and protests have occurred in Dublin.
The queen wore green and placed a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance, an area dedicated to those who died for Irish freedom. She met with Mary McAleese, Ireland's president. Prince Phillip accompanies the queen.
Outspoken nationalist singer Morrissey has made known his feelings against the queen's visit. Regardless of how people feel in Ireland and the world, it does look as though the queen is attempting to mend fences and repair the image of Britain in its post-imperial era.
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