Prince William speaks of the Troubles and the 'many wrongs' done in historic speech
PRINCE WILLIAM will deliver a powerful and poignant speech focused on the Troubles and the "many wrongs" done in Britain's relationship with Ireland in the past.
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Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, will keep on building "on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation" on the second day of their Irish tour. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be the guests of Simon Coveney, the Irish Tanaiste, this evening.
And Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, is set to share his memories of the Troubles and reflect on the violence taking place during the three-decade conflict.
The Duke is set to say: “Growing up I remember seeing the Troubles that took place, which affected so many people across the UK and Ireland.
"This explains why one of the truly profound moments for Catherine and I took place yesterday when we laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance.
"It was a reminder of the complexity of our shared history, and as my grandmother said during her visit in 2011, 'our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache and turbulence'.
"But it was also a reminder of how far we have come.
"It is right that we continue to remember those who suffered as a consequence of our troubled past.
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"And whilst many wrongs have been done, it is important that we are not bound by these."
This poignant speech will come the day after Kate and Prince William paid their respect to the Irishmen who died fighting for their country's freedom.
The Cambridges' visit to the Garden of Remembrance was particularly meaningful as it saw Kate and William laying a wreath and homaging those who lost their lives for the cause of Irish freedom - also fighting against the British Crown.
The wreath bore a message reading: "May we never forget the lessons of history as we continue to build a brighter future together."
The Garden was opened on Easter Monday in 1966, on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, when a small band of Irish Volunteers took over Dublin's General Post Office and a series of other key buildings in the city to revolt against the British rule.
The uprising ended with the death of nearly 500 people, including soldiers and civilians.
Kate and William aren't the first royals to step into the Garden.
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth II visited this monument to Irish freedom and famously bowed her head as a sign of respect to the dead.
Kate and William landed at Dublin Airport yesterday, kicking-off their first-ever official visit to Ireland.
Ahead of their tour, Kensington Palace outlined the importance of this trip, the first tour abroad undertaken by any member of the Royal Family since Brexit Day.
The palace said in a statement: "The visit, which will see Their Royal Highnesses spend time in Dublin, County Meath, County Kildare and Galway, will highlight the many strong links between the UK and Ireland.
"From its thriving cities to rural communities, the programme will take in Ireland’s rich culture, its impactful community initiatives and spectacular scenery.
"Following Her Majesty The Queen’s historic visit in 2011, the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation."