The Queen has laid a wreath at the Republic of Ireland’s Garden of Remembrance during the first visit by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence.
The garden, in Dublin, is dedicated to people who fought for Irish independence from Britain.
Dozens of protesters gathered nearby amid one of the country’s biggest security operations.
Earlier, the Queen was welcomed by President Mary McAleese.
It emerged that a pipe bomb found on a bus bound for Dublin on Monday had been made safe by the Irish army.
Upon landing at Baldonnel military airbase, just outside Dublin, the Queen emerged wearing an outfit of symbolic emerald green.
After lunch the monarch wore a white outfit.
God Save The Queen was played when she arrived at the Garden of Remembrance to lay the wreath – regarded as a highly symbolic act as the garden commemorates Irish people who fought over the centuries against British rule.
A one-minute silence followed the laying of the wreath, after which the Irish Tricolour was raised from half to full mast and the country’s national anthem was played.
Much of the centre of Dublin was cordoned off, leaving many streets empty, as part of the strict security clampdown put in place for the visit. (BBC)
