Queen Elizabeth to visit Irish republic

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will make an historic visit to the Republic of Ireland in May.

The 84-year-old royal will be the first UK monarch to visit the country since her grandfather George V's trip in 1911 before it gained independence from British rule.

The visit is reportedly the brainchild of the Irish government who are eager to put a century of tensions between the two countries behind them while the queen is also said to be supportive of the idea.

A source told the Sun: "The impetus for it comes from the Irish government.

"The queen is very keen. It has always been tragic that a country neighbouring Britain has been off-limits."

Preparations for the three-day trip are already underway with the queen expected to stay at a grand residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park near where the Irish president lives and she will visit a local tree planted by great-great grandmother Victoria in 1853.

While the royal family are frequent visitors to Northern Ireland, security concerns have prevented a trip by the monarch to the republic before now but after the Ulster peace process and last year's Bloody Sunday inquiry the country has been deemed safe enough for an official visit.