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Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands
(40 minutes later)
The Queen and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness have shaken hands for the first time.The Queen and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness have shaken hands for the first time.
The private meeting between the monarch and Northern Ireland's deputy first minister took place at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast on Wednesday. The meeting between the monarch and Northern Ireland's deputy first minister took place at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast on Wednesday.
It happened at an event organised by a charity, Co-Operation Ireland, which works to bring communities together.It happened at an event organised by a charity, Co-Operation Ireland, which works to bring communities together.
It is understood they will shake hands in public later. They shook hands at a private meeting and later shook hands in public.
The private meeting involved a group of seven people which included Irish President Michael D Higgins and Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson. The private meeting, in a room at the theatre, involved a group of seven people, including Irish President Michael D Higgins and Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen is wearing an apple green outfit designed by Angela Kelly. Later, as the Queen left to continue her Diamond Jubilee tour of Northern Ireland, the pair shook hands again, this time in public.
As they shook hands for a second time, Mr McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish and told her that the phrase meant: "Goodbye and God speed."
The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: "Asked how it was to meet Queen, Martin McGuinness replied 'very nice'".
Buckingham Palace said the Queen was wearing an apple green outfit designed by Angela Kelly.
The main event had been billed as one to celebrate the role of the arts in contributing to reconciliation and peace-building and not as part of the Jubilee celebrations.The main event had been billed as one to celebrate the role of the arts in contributing to reconciliation and peace-building and not as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
The Queen doesn't give interviews and unlike other well-known public figures, she never bares her soul. During the event, the Queen was presented with a gift of Belleek pottery to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
Her thoughts on meeting Martin McGuinness will be recorded in her diary, but not shared with the rest of us. The prime minister's official spokesman said the Queen's visit to the Republic of Ireland last year had "taken relations between the two countries to a new level".
The Troubles in Northern Ireland took their toll on her, as they did on many others. The spokesperson added: "We think it is right that the Queen should meet representatives from all parts of the community."
The IRA murdered her cousin, Lord Mountbatten. Afterwards, her sister was reported to have told someone in America "the Irish are pigs". Buckingham Palace came to the late Princess Margaret's aid, insisting she'd actually said "the Irish dance jigs". Not only did the Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands, they wore a matching colour.
Irrespective of any personal feelings, the Queen and her advisers know it would have been untenable for the UK's head of state to snub an elected politician. Needless to say it was green. It may be a trivial point, but it spoke volumes.
Last year in Dublin she spoke of the importance of being able "to bow to the past, but not be bound by it". The image will help Sinn Fein reach out to voters, previously reluctant to support a party linked to the IRA.
But the picture could lose them a small number of party members for whom a meeting with the British head of state is a republican step too far.
As for the Queen, it will not be the favourite moment of her 60-year reign, but it is certainly one of the most significant.
Those present at the Lyric event include the pianist Barry Douglas, poet Michael Longley and actors Adrian Dunbar and Conleth Hill.Those present at the Lyric event include the pianist Barry Douglas, poet Michael Longley and actors Adrian Dunbar and Conleth Hill.
BBC Northern Ireland's political editor Mark Devenport said the occasion had been specifically designed to meet Sinn Fein's sensitivities and to ensure that a ground-breaking encounter could take place.BBC Northern Ireland's political editor Mark Devenport said the occasion had been specifically designed to meet Sinn Fein's sensitivities and to ensure that a ground-breaking encounter could take place.
"It is being stressed the arts event has a cross-border dimension and is not part of the Jubilee celebrations," he said."It is being stressed the arts event has a cross-border dimension and is not part of the Jubilee celebrations," he said.
"That is in contrast to the huge party planned for Stormont, which is a celebration of the Queen's 60-year reign organised by the Northern Ireland Office.""That is in contrast to the huge party planned for Stormont, which is a celebration of the Queen's 60-year reign organised by the Northern Ireland Office."
About 20,000 people are expected to attend the event at Stormont later.About 20,000 people are expected to attend the event at Stormont later.
  • There will be live coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee visit at 14:45 BST on BBC Two NI and BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday, with live streaming online on the BBC Northern Ireland news website.
  • There will be live coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee visit at 14:45 BST on BBC Two NI and BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday, with live streaming online on the BBC Northern Ireland news website.
Are you hoping to see the Queen during her Northern Ireland tour? You can share your thoughts with us using the form below.Are you hoping to see the Queen during her Northern Ireland tour? You can share your thoughts with us using the form below.