Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo dated 22/06/1982 of of the Prince and Princess of Wales showing off their son, Prince William, to the media for the first time. Tim Ockenden/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Haughey Government in row over royal baby message

The Taoiseach’s Department disagreed with the Department of Foreign Affairs over whether a congratulatory message should be sent to the British Royal Family on the birth of Prince William of Wales in June 1982.

This post was initially published on the 28 December 2012. TheJournal.ie reposts it today, given the events (or imminent event) across the water.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach’s office became embroiled in a row over whether or not to send a message of congratulations to the British Royal Family on the birth of Prince William of Wales in June 1982, State Papers have revealed.

A memo sent from assistant secretary Richard Stokes to Charles Haughey outlines advice given by the Chief of Protocol, who said it would not be appropriate for a message to be sent as Prince Charles and Princess Diana were not Heads of State.

The Chief of Protocol had been asked for his advice following a press query by a journalist to the President’s office.

Stokes told the Taoiseach he “would strongly disagree with the Foreign Affairs advice on this”.

“I believe that a message of congratulations should be sent by the President to the Queen on the birth of her grandson,” he continued.

He also provided an example of precedent for such a message – a similar note of congratulations to the Grand-Duke of Luxembourg in the recent past.

Apart from the precedent and what the file in Foreign Affairs may suggest, I think that the popular perception of what is required on this would dictate that a message should be sent – not sending a message would be seen as hiding behind the niceties of protocol in order to be churlish. Taken in conjunction with recent events in Anglo-Irish relations it would be seen as compounding the antipathy that is presumed to underlie our actions towards the British.

The Department of Foreign Affairs explained away the example, stating the message to Luxembourg came shortly after a State visit and so did not constitute a precedent. The Chief of Protocol also highlighted the fact that the President and his wife did not attend the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

However, Stokes believed “an explanation will be no substitute for a warm and gracious message for this happy event on our neighbouring island”. He added in parenthesis that he did not “have time to consult with other viewpoints in the Department as we must respond to this by lunch-time”.

Another document from HJ Dowd, an official in the Department of the Taoiseach, shows that he was in agreement with Stokes. He also said it would be of “no harm” to tell the Foreign Affairs Department that “they were in error when they said that their files suggest that a message should not be sent.”

He points to two further precedents for sending such a message. On the 15 November 1948, President Seán T Ó Ceallaigh sent his wishes to King George VI on the birth of a son (now the Prince of Wales) to Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen). On the 16 August 1950, he sent a similar message to King George on the birth of his grand-daughter Princess Ann.

A note made out on the 22 June shows that the Government then scrambled to reach an agreement that the President should send a message of congratulations. The draft was cleared with the Chief of Protocol at 12.50pm.

However, it was not enough to fend off the evening papers, which ran a story about Ireland’s “snub” of the royal baby.

President Hillery eventually sent the following message to Queen Elizabeth II:

I am delighted to learn of the news of the birth of your grandson. I send my best wishes and those of the people of Ireland to you and to the Prince and Princess of Wales on this very happy occasion.

But the fallout from the mixup continued to garner negative press for the Government, with one evening headline reading, “Irish ‘U’ Turn on Royal Baby”.

And the Taoiseach’s department was not happy about it.

A letter to the Secretary to the Government reads:

I understand from Mr Stokes that, when this was pointed out to the Department of Foreign Affairs, their reply was that “they wouldn’t go back as far as 1948 or 1950 for a precedent”!
As you know, the failure of the Department of Foreign Affairs to advert to those precedents resulted in most undesirable publicity with banner headlines in at least one newspaper accusing the President of having “snubbed” the Royal baby and later of having “made a U-turn” when, following independent advice to the Taoiseach from this Department (Mr Stokes), the Government agreed that the President should be advised to send a message.

Thirty years on, Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child. Bookmakers have already opened betting on whether it will be a boy or a girl, what colour hair it will have and what its parents will name it. Reports from 1982 show that William Hill got it totally wrong on the birth of William, making George even-money favourite, followed by James, Charles, Edward, David, Philliop and Louis.

However the Evening  Herald did describe William’s mother as “the unpredictable Diana”.

See the National Archives, reference 2012/90/488

READ: Haughey intervened over detention of British journalists during Falklands crisis>

MORE: RTÉ admits ‘massive blunder’ over BBC arrangement during Falklands conflict>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
48 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerrigan
    Favourite Kerrigan
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 8:10 AM

    Nowadays we just join the Pippa Middleton arse appreciation page on Facebook…

    426
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Leddy
    Favourite Tom Leddy
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:34 AM

    I didn’t know it existed ( the Facebook page, not her arse) but I must have a look( again, at the Facebook page, not her arse)

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O Cinneide
    Favourite Brian O Cinneide
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 10:39 AM

    They say that she has a fine arse on her.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damocles
    Favourite Damocles
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:06 AM

    Blimey you people wrap yourselves in knots over this stuff.

    You invited the wrong Normans over to sort out your problems, you picked the wrong end in the English civil war and you came out badly from an agricultural crisis affecting the whole of Europe.

    Get over it and enjoy having had your own country for a few years until you handed it over to Brussels.

    145
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damocles
    Favourite Damocles
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:20 AM

    Sorry, “tie yourselves in knots”. “Wrap”, sheesh.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Hyland
    Favourite James Hyland
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:23 AM

    Damocles it too late the eu control govern us now as for the dail its only the regional headquarters for the eu lackies

    46
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damocles
    Favourite Damocles
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:41 AM

    Well quite, James, you go through all this hassle to get your own country and then hand it over to Brussels for the price of a couple of motorways.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Hyland
    Favourite James Hyland
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 9:54 AM

    too true Damocles too true

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Breandán Mac Séarraigh
    Favourite Breandán Mac Séarraigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 1:27 PM

    I think you will find that it was trouble in Ireland (1641) which began the “English Civil War” (1642 onwards). I don’t think the Irish had the luxury of choice, having been invaded, conquered and colonised. I’d rather have the EU any day than the Brits (as they later became).

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Power
    Favourite Adam Power
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:12 AM

    Breandan if the UK offered us Home Rule right now Id be inclined to think about it!

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobby Murray
    Favourite Bobby Murray
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 12:59 PM

    Damocles I agree 110 %

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Rogers
    Favourite Tony Rogers
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 12:16 PM

    Surprised he had time to do anything as he was so busy lining his pockets and robbing the Irish public

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Wall
    Favourite Stephen Wall
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 12:16 PM

    A lot of posters seem to be missing the point of this. Part of the role of Government is to respond to international events with regard to the norms of diplomatic protocol. In this instance, the Taoiseach appeared to desire to go beyond normal protocol in order to improve relations with our closest neighbour; hardly an inappropriate subject for the Taoiseach to consider (and yes, there were more pressing concerns that year, but Anglo-Irish relations was high on the agenda too.)

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Power
    Favourite Adam Power
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:03 AM

    Agreed. Bloody hell a vital trading partner that loaned us big money outside the Bailout program. How many Irish citizens are working over their now? How many have gone over on holidays? How many Brits have come over here on holidays?

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Power
    Favourite Adam Power
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:05 AM

    Aaaaaaand I read the article & withdraw that comment with embarrassment.

    23
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobby Murray
    Favourite Bobby Murray
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 12:55 PM

    Adam I ‘d say you would sell your soul to highest bidder and the souls of your family if you could. Thirty pieces if silver comes to mind and fits your comments!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Lenihan
    Favourite Jim Lenihan
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 3:51 PM

    arse

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Lenihan
    Favourite Jim Lenihan
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 3:54 PM

    how many irish people did they kill english bart……

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Zombie
    Favourite Rob Zombie
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 8:17 AM

    My brother was born 2 days after him, my family got a congratulatory letter from Haughey! Not

    Goes to show that this country never ever stop fawning over the Windsors.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
    Favourite John Ó'Ríordán
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 3:45 PM

    “Goes to show that this country never ever stop fawning over the Windsors” Exactly. I can’t understand why people care so much about the children of a foreign Queen. Why do Irish people care if William Saxe-Coburg-Goth is having a kid?

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Newnewman
    Favourite Tom Newnewman
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 10:51 AM

    The Irish media is controlled by a British union the NTJ.

    25
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Newnewman
    Favourite Tom Newnewman
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 10:55 AM

    NUJ

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 10:39 AM

    Was this all they had had to worry about in that year.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Zombie
    Favourite Rob Zombie
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 10:46 AM

    Spot on Alan – Of all the pressing matters this was up for debate. pure paddyisim again.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew P
    Favourite Andrew P
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 8:15 AM

    troubling times

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 10:58 AM

    While an Irish citizen loses her life after travelling to England for an abortion, the Irish media report on a baby born into privilege. While I wish the baby northing but good health, I think we as a country need to get our priorities straight.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chuck Farrelly
    Favourite Chuck Farrelly
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:09 AM

    I’m pretty sure they’re reporting on both, which is how you know about both

    (Although you need to pay a little more attention – she wasn’t an Irish citizen)

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry T Bird
    Favourite Larry T Bird
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:22 AM

    From reading the story I understand the lady had the yellow-pack citizenship.

    Sure there’s one for everyone in the audience….Sing the first line of the National Anthem and you can have one too.

    5
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Who's Yer Man
    Favourite Who's Yer Man
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:27 AM

    Chuck, you need to pay more attention. While it says the lady travelling to the UK may not have been born in Ireland, she was an Irish Citizen according to the same article.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Naughton
    Favourite Jason Naughton
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:59 AM

    Was a foreign national living in Ireland. No media storm going to happen!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chuck Farrelly
    Favourite Chuck Farrelly
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 12:56 PM

    Nope. She was “legally resident” inIreland according to the original story. The journalist who broke it says she was on a student visa

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RG Cuan
    Favourite RG Cuan
    Report
    Dec 28th 2012, 1:18 PM

    Why would any Republic send messages to the royal family of any country?

    To representatives of elected governments? Yes.

    To members of an outdated, regressive system of undeserved privilege? No.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chuck Farrelly
    Favourite Chuck Farrelly
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:07 AM

    Out of politeness?

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stepping Stones
    Favourite Stepping Stones
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 12:25 PM

    Remember the massive effort John Hume and Mo Molan and so many others made to bring peace to Northern Ireland. John often risking his life to succeed in the peace talks.
    We cannot live in the past, yes The British did what they did, it was wrong but it’s now past tense. There is a new generation being born and why sully this with the wrong doings of past days. Every child is a blessing and should be welcomed into the world by everyone.
    Look to the future and let everyone help in any way to make it a happy and peaceful one.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 6:26 PM

    Don’t get me wrong i don’t hate the Royal Family. I hate that people with disabilities are getting their benefits cut, whilst the British government are planning on buying the Queen a new yacht. My partner is expecting our first child, where’s my circus?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:22 AM

    She lived, worked and had a family in Ireland. To me that makes her just as much of a citizen of Ireland than everyone else.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:26 AM

    *Studied

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O Cinneide
    Favourite Brian O Cinneide
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 10:43 AM

    Those officials were a pair of arse-licking bastards.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rita Cahill
    Favourite Rita Cahill
    Report
    Dec 29th 2012, 2:15 AM

    It is Funny how the British Stuff keep pOpping up in Our Irish Archive” Kenny probally Brought it Back From Britain” Cameroon Slipped it into his hand a Copy of Fraud Documents” he Spends Quite alot of time with CAmeroon, british Profiting from irish Heritage” makes you Wonder” Pictures in The Dial House” been Robbed by Politicians to the museum or Sold off on internet private Auctions” a Piece of our Irish Heritage of history Been Sold By Corrupt politicians To USA and British Heritage” who Steal Our Irish Heritage and now Fraud has come to the Agenda” of Fake Teabags Dipped onto the Paper”HMM Strange Things are Happening Since Cameroon and kenny Rejoined Fraudsters and Robbers,Thirty years on, Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child. Bookmakers have already opened betting on whether it will be a boy or a girl, what colour hair it will have and what its parents will name it. Reports from 1982 show that William Hill got it totally wrong on the birth of William, making George even-money favourite,

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Carr
    Favourite Martin Carr
    Report
    Dec 30th 2012, 9:05 AM

    You should have your prescription changed

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Featherstone
    Favourite Joan Featherstone
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:33 AM

    And up the dosage while your at it!

    18
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Naughton
    Favourite Jason Naughton
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 11:58 AM

    Take 3 steps back and start again!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Siddall
    Favourite Joseph Siddall
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 12:35 PM

    Rita, is that an attempt at a reasoned response or merely a very long anagram ? Either way it totally lost me.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy
    Favourite Paddy
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 1:50 PM

    Holy sh1t Rita…I’ve p pain in my head after reading that! You’re gone mad on the capitals and Cameroon:-)

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stepping Stones
    Favourite Stepping Stones
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 7:22 PM

    @Leonard Annett. I wasn’t directing my comment at you at all or at anyone really. I was just making a general comment on how I felt.
    Congratulations on your news about your pending new arrival, and everyone deserves to have as much commotion made about the birth of their baby as anyone else’s and you must be so excited.
    All governments are squandering money and its maddening to the highest degree when you look how others are struggling with daily needs of all sorts and its not one bit fair. So I agree with you in what you said.
    I don’t follow up on the Royal family or anything to be quite honest I make off they are not either use nor ornament but this little baby is being born into this ‘situation’ and is innocent of everything. That’s all I was trying to say.
    Best of luck again with yer baby and enjoy the happiness he/she will bring to you and your family.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 9:35 PM

    Apologies cara.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leonard Annett
    Favourite Leonard Annett
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 9:36 PM

    And thanks for the good wishes!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy
    Favourite Paddy
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2013, 1:52 PM

    a*

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.