Typical. Co Kildare waits 100 years for a royal visit and then two come along together. While Queen Elizabeth toured equestrian facilities in the county on Thursday, her nephew Viscount Linley arrived to launch an exhibition of works of art from the collection of the late Dr Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair. The Ryan family is selling a selection of some 450 paintings and antiques from their late father’s home, Lyons Demesne, near Celbridge.

Viscount Linley (49), son of the Queen’s late sister Princess Margaret, is chairman of Christie’s UK and Ireland division. He described Tony Ryan as “a man of great taste with a reputation for doing things superbly well.” Christie’s will auction the collection in London on July 14th and highlights are on view today and tomorrow in the Village at Lyons in the grounds of Lyons Demesne. Entry is by catalogue which costs €30 and admits two people.