Prince William and Kate Middleton wished a happy St Patrick's Day to millions of people around the world celebrating the event. The Duke of Cambridge wrestled bravely with the Irish language as he wished viewers of the video “beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh", a traditional St Patrick's Day greeting. World leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also sent messages of goodwill to the Irish diaspora. On Tuesday, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent a letter to Irish President Michael D Higgins and wrote fondly of her visit to Ireland a decade ago. The message read: “On the occasion of your National Day, I would like to convey to Your Excellency my congratulations, together with my best wishes to the people of Ireland. “This year marks 10 years since my visit to Ireland, which I remember fondly, and it marks a significant centenary across these islands. “We share ties of family, friendship and affection – the foundation of our partnership that remains as important today as 10 years ago.” She closed her message with, “La Fheile Padraig sona daoibh go leir.” It translates as, “Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all”. The queen spoke in Irish during her historic 2011 visit when she attended a state dinner in Dublin Castle, opening by addressing “A Uachtarain agus a chairde" or "the President and friends". Throughout the speech, she spoke of the ties between Ireland and Britain, acknowledging the relationship as “firm friends and equal partners”. The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Ireland for four days in May 2011 following an invitation from then-president Mary McAleese. The visit marked 100 years since the last royal visit to Ireland, which took place when Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom. Her latest message comes at a time of strained Anglo-Irish relations after Brexit and its impact on Northern Ireland. In response to the queen’s message, Mr Higgins wrote, both in Irish and English, about the family ties and friendships between Ireland and the UK. “We know St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated in the hearts of generations of Irish people who have made their home in Britain and their British friends and family – as well as by the many British people who have happily made their home here.” The president closed by saying, “Guim La Fheile Padraig shona agus siochanta ort agus ar do mhuintir.” It translates as, “I wish you and your family a happy and peaceful St Patrick’s Day.” Before Wednesday's celebrations, Ireland's Higher Education Minister said the most patriotic thing Irish people could do on St Patrick's Day was to stay at home. Simon Harris urged people not to jeopardise the progress made in tackling the spread of Covid-19 by gathering. “The most patriotic thing people can actually do in terms of our national battle against Covid-19 is stick to the public health advice," Mr Harris said. “We want to see construction start to come back and people be able to do that little bit more outdoors. “My message, the government’s message, the chief medical officer’s message is: Let’s not do anything tomorrow that risks that.” He said he was “really confident” that if the public followed the health advice there would be a “slow, steady and gradual” reopening of the country in the coming weeks. “Don’t set our country back for the sake of a day, for the sake of a special occasion,” he said.
