The heads of the Belgian royal family will today visit some of Dublin's most famous landmarks as part of their three-day state visit to Ireland.
King Albert II and Queen Paola are to visit the GPO and the Spire on O'Connell Street and later visit Trinity College.
They will also visit Powerscourt House and Gardens in Co Wicklow.
The royal couple arrived yesterday and were the guests of honour at a state dinner hosted by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin. After a short private meeting with Mrs McAleese, the king planted an Irish oak tree in the grounds of the Áras.
They received an Air Corps fly-past shortly after they arrived at the Áras, an honour not accorded to a head of state since the visit of US president John F Kennedy in 1963.
Later, the royal couple went to a reception attended by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Irish ambassador to Belgium Brian Nason and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.
Tomorrow, the royals will visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Co Clare before going to the Cliffs of Moher. They will leave from Shannon airport in the afternoon.