An image for the history books

It was a visit for the history books and has provided plenty of photos of times past to be remembered in the future.  Pictures from the State Visit, hosted by the Queen, by Michael D Higgins were voted the most iconic of recent official trips in the latest poll.

The Queen with President Michael D Higgins, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Sabina Higgins, in an image from the recent State Visit

The first ever State Visit by a President of the Republic of Ireland to the UK lasted four days and provided plenty of talking points, perhaps the reason it got fifty per cent of the votes in a poll to find the most iconic image of recent State Visits.  In second place, with thirty three per cent, was the tour of New Zealand by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while the two day trip to the Netherlands by the King and Queen of Sweden was third with seventeen per cent.  All visits will be remembered for many years to come but the symbolism of the Irish State Visit makes it the first for the history books.