Woman Grabs Kate Middleton’s Hand To Tell Her ‘Ireland Is For The Irish’ At Meet & Greet

Oct 14, 2022 by apost team

Part and parcel of being part of the British royal family are undertaking their duties as figureheads of the United Kingdom. In the modern era, all senior members of the royal family have assumed this role as "ambassadors" for the sovereign by shouldering duties such as supporting charities, appearing at events, launching institutions and touring the country to meet their subjects. But as figureheads, they are required to remain impartial, unbiased and unprejudiced and cannot take part in or declare any preferences when it comes to politics. This can be a touchy line to toe but remains a staunch directive by which all members must abide.

Try as they might to avoid it, sometimes, it catches them by surprise. Such was the case for Princess of Wales Kate Middleton on a trip to Northern Ireland on Oct. 6, 2022, with her husband, Prince William. As the pair greeted a crowd outside the PIPS charity in Belfast, Kate was taken by surprise by an Irish woman who had some contentious things to say to her, and her reaction was caught on camera.

While many commended Kate on how she handled the unexpected situation, many were also reminded of the contentious history between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. While Northern Ireland is a part of the UK alongside England, Wales and Scotland, it has a long history of how it got there in the first place. Once part of Ireland as a whole before the island was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, its storied and complicated history includes invasions, changes in rulers, colonization, rebellion, civil war and violent unrest. Read on to find out more about the ties between England and Northern Ireland and learn the possible reasons the woman said what she did to Kate. 

England claimed sovereignty over Ireland following the 12th-century Anglo-Norman invasion. In the 16th century, the Tudor conquest saw Henry VIII being declared King of Ireland and the beginning of English colonization. By the end of the 17th century, the Protestant Ascendency led to the rule of a Protestant minority over the mainly Catholic state that continued over into the 18th century. 

In 1801, Ireland joined the United Kingdom, but war soon broke out between Irish nationalists and the British, leading to the partition of the island into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, later known as the Republic of Ireland. While Northern Ireland remained a part of the UK, it endured decades of unrest from the 1960s to 1990s, known as The Troubles. Belfast, in particular, witnessed some of the more horrific violence in the period, and "peace walls" were erected to divide Catholic areas from Protestant ones. In 2013, it was ruled that the walls would be dismantled by 2023, but up to now, only a few have been taken down.

The Troubles saw almost 4,000 deaths by the time it ended with the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Beginning with protests by a few Catholic institutions and their supporters to end discrimination from the Protestant government and local authorities, it worsened into all-out violence. During this time, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) became notorious for acts of terrorism and its armed campaign. The British army was eventually roped in to aid in peacekeeping efforts, but its involvement soon raised alarm, particularly after its extreme and disproportionate response during the events of "Bloody Sunday."

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"Bloody Sunday" refers to the events of Jan. 30, 1972, in which the British army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on a crowd of protesters in Bogside, a mainly Catholic area of Londonderry. Thirteen people were killed in the incident that garnered widespread condemnation and has had a lasting effect on the ties between Irish nationalists and the British. 

Some of this disdain still carries on today, albeit in more subtle and non-violent ways. It's visible in the way the Irish loathe being mistakenly referred to as British, as can be seen in this interview with Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who takes offense as the interviewer insisted on calling him British while Tom Hardy looked on uncomfortably. Other Irish personalities have found themselves in similar situations, including actor Chris O'Dowd and athlete Conor McGregor.

However, hope for brighter ties in the future came in the form of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic in 2011, the first by a sitting British monarch in 100 years. Her powerful gesture of speaking Gaelic during a speech in a last-minute breach of protocol won the hearts of the Irish public. She was also lauded for not glossing over the two nations' troubled history.

"It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss," she said.

"These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy," she continued. 

Her daughter-in-law Kate would also have a brush with Irish nationalism while visiting Belfast, although with a far more mixed outcome.

The cameras were rolling when Kate made her way to the crowd outside the PIPS charity in Carrickfergus, Belfast. A video showed her shaking hands with a woman wearing a green sweater. As they shook hands, the woman said, "Nice to meet you, but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country." Kate kept her composure and laughed in response before moving on to the next person. However, the woman in green was not done yet. She then said, "Ireland belongs to the Irish."

While the incident could have easily gone sideways, Kate's composure kept the situation from escalating, which has not gone unnoticed.

"Unnecessary rudeness handled with grace," said one viewer.

"If that woman feels like that then why did she attend a meet-and-greet with the Royals?" questioned another viewer.

"An Irish Karen! At least one woman retained a little dignity!" a third viewer said.

Even as talk of reunification gains momentum, tension over the issue still exists, with some Irish folk voicing their disappointment over the way the histories between the countries are being taught.

"In every Irish classroom, children are reared on stories of oppression and rebellion. Every child understands the intricacies of Anglo-Irish relations. … Irish students leave school with the historical and emotional weight of colonization on their shoulders. Compare that to Britain, where teaching English rightly involves texts focused on class, misogyny and injustice… but rarely relating to Britain's relationship with Ireland, despite Ireland's literary clout and proximity," Jennifer Horgan wrote in an op-ed in The Guardian.

While it is hoped the simmering tensions that still exist will someday be addressed and resolved, in the meantime, we can look to Kate as a masterclass in keeping her cool in the face of palpable hostility.

What do you think about Kate's response – or lack thereof – to the woman who confronted her? Do you feel the actions of the woman in green were justified, knowing the painful history between the two countries? Let us know, and don't forget to pass this along to family and friends.