Queen to make first-ever state visit to Ireland

Queen Elizabeth II will make her first-ever state visit to the Republic of Ireland later this year.

It's a deeply symbolic move, as no ruling British monarch has visited since 1911, when King George V spent six days in Dublin.

At the time, Britain and Ireland were united under a single crown. Ireland won its independence in 1922, but relations between Ireland and Britain remained poisoned by continuous arguments - and fighting - over the fate of Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom.

The 1998 Good Friday peace accord, which gave Northern Ireland a measure of self-government, went a long way toward healing the historic rift.

British Ambassador Julian King said the invitation "symbolizes how far the relationship has come in recent years; the strength of our economic and political ties; and the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland. "

"The visit will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate this, and build on the rich and varied links that exist across these islands," he said Friday.

The palace said in a statement that the 84-year-old queen would be accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Ireland's presidency confirmed the announcement and said details would be released later.

The announcement came a week after Irish voters dealt the ruling Fianna Fail party a historic loss - the worst in nearly 80 years -and put the opposition Fine Gael party in power.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party are holding negotiations on forming a new government faced with salvaging Ireland's debt-ravaged economy.

Ireland is supposed to slash euro15 billion ($21 billion) from its deficits by 2014 under terms of an international bailout.