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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 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. |
They shook hands at a private meeting and later shook hands in public. | |
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. | |
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. |
During the event, the Queen was presented with a gift of Belleek pottery to mark her Diamond Jubilee. | |
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 spokesperson added: "We think it is right that the Queen should meet representatives from all parts of the community." | |
Not only did the Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands, they wore a matching colour. | |
Needless to say it was green. It may be a trivial point, but it spoke volumes. | |
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. |
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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. |