The state visit of Michael D. Higgins to the United Kingdom occurred on 7 April 2014. It was the first state visit of a President of Ireland to the United Kingdom. The visit came three years after the first state visit by a reigning British monarch to what is now the Republic of Ireland following its independence. President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins were welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II on 8 April at Windsor Castle on the first day of a four-day visit. The President attended a formal meeting with UK Prime Minister David Cameron on the same day.