Britain | Nationalism, unionism and royalty

The queen helped effect a change in Anglo-Irish relations

Things got off to a bad start

18/05/2011 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II pictured at the wreath laying ceremony at the Irish National War Memorial Garden , Islandbridge Dublin during her State Visit to Ireland . Photo: MAXWELLS DUBLIN - IRISH GOVERMENT POOL PICTURE© eyevine Contact eyevine for more information about using this image: T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709 E: info@eyevine.com http:///www.eyevine.com
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In june an opinion poll for the Sunday Independent, an Irish newspaper, revealed that Queen Elizabeth II was more popular than any Irish political leader. The founders of the republic would have been astonished. But the queen did much to improve relations between Britain and Ireland, and between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Neighbourly relations”

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