Mary Robinson acted like a ‘queen’, says British diplomat
State papers describe Charles Haughey ‘basking’ in president’s ‘reflected glory’
Mary Robinson at her inauguration as president at Dublin Castle in December 1990. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh
Mary Robinson “behaved for all the world like a queen” at a state reception after her inauguration as president in 1990, prompting a Fianna Fáil TD to say that the monarchy had been exported to Ireland, according to the British ambassador at the time.
A memo from Nicholas Fenn, released by the National Archives in London, details how taoiseach Charlie Haughey was able to “bask in her reflected glory” by remaining by her side during the reception in December 1990.