Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Irish government minister Heather Humphreys at Glasnevin Cemetery today. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Irish Echo Staff
The process of reconciliation between Ireland and Great Britain that has been specifically focused in recent years on the 1916 Rising and the fight for independence took another big step forward today with Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, visiting the grave of Michael Collins and other leaders in the independence struggle.
The royal couple were on the final day of their four-day visit to Ireland.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall stood at the grave of Michael Collins and also attended the unveiling of Victoria Cross paving stones in memory of four Irish-born soldiers - Corporal John Cunningham, Company Sergeant Major Robert Hill Hanna, Lieutenant Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey and Private Michael James O'Rourke.
The four soldiers serving in the British army in World War I were awarded Britain’s highest award for military gallantry in 1917.
The Victoria Cross is made of bronze from Russian cannon captured during the Crimean War in the 1850s.
According to a report in the Irish Examiner, Charles paused at the paving stone of Corporal Cunningham after he unveiled the memorial stone.
The Duchess bowed her head as she unveiled the paving stone in memory of Sergeant Major Hill Hanna.
Prince Charles and Irish Arts Minister, Heather Humphreys then laid wreaths at the Cross of Sacrifice.
The royal couple, according to the report, also took part in a ceremony at a memorial marking the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
The short ceremony, the Examiner report added, was held at the Necrology Wall, which bears the names of all who died in the rebellion, Irish and British, military, police and civilian.
Prince Charles and Minister Humpreys laid wreaths at the wall and a minute's silence was followed by a piper's lament.
The decision to include the names of all who had died was a cause of controversy last year and in April the wall was vandalized, the report noted.
During a tour of the cemetery the royal couple also paused to look at the graves of Eamon de Valera and Maud Gonne.
Prince Charles was due to meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny before winding up the visit that included stops in Kilkenny and Kildare as well as Dublin.
