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| Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands | Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| It is understood Mr McGuinness welcomed both the Queen and the Irish president in Irish. | It is understood Mr McGuinness welcomed both the Queen and the Irish president in Irish. |
| The deputy first minister is said to have commented on the Queen's visit to Dublin last year, and in particular her comments regarding all the victims of the Troubles. | The deputy first minister is said to have commented on the Queen's visit to Dublin last year, and in particular her comments regarding all the victims of the Troubles. |
| A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "He emphasised the need to acknowledge the pain of all victims of the conflict and their families." | A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "He emphasised the need to acknowledge the pain of all victims of the conflict and their families." |
| Sinn Fein said Mr McGuinness told the Queen that their meeting was a "powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership". | Sinn Fein said Mr McGuinness told the Queen that their meeting was a "powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership". |
| Later, as the Queen left to continue her Diamond Jubilee tour of Northern Ireland, the pair shook hands again, this time in public. | 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, which translates: "Goodbye and God bless." | As they shook hands for a second time, Mr McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish, which translates: "Goodbye and God bless." |
| When asked how it was to meet the Queen, Martin McGuinness replied "very nice." | |
| Not only did the Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands, they wore a matching colour. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | During the event, the Queen was presented with a gift of Belleek pottery to mark her Diamond Jubilee. |
| President Higgins said he and his wife, Sabina, had been delighted "to have the opportunity for a brief but very warm meeting" with the Queen. | President Higgins said he and his wife, Sabina, had been delighted "to have the opportunity for a brief but very warm meeting" with the Queen. |
| He said it marked "another important step on the journey to reconciliation on this island". | He said it marked "another important step on the journey to reconciliation on this island". |
| 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 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." | The spokesperson added: "We think it is right that the Queen should meet representatives from all parts of the community." |
| Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he very much welcomed the meeting between the Queen and Martin McGuinness. | |
| Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Mr Adams said: "It brings our journey of relationship building within this island and between these islands onto a new plane." | |
| |He added: "I think the vast majority of unionists will be pleased this happened because they know it was essentially a real gesture towards their sense of identity and their sense of allegiance." | |
| "Whatever personal feelings Martin may have, no more than myself, doesn't come into it. It was a good thing for him to do and I commend him for it," he added. | |
| Those present at the Lyric event included the pianist Barry Douglas, poet Michael Longley and actors Adrian Dunbar and Conleth Hill. | Those present at the Lyric event included 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 at the Lyric 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 at the Lyric 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." |
| The Queen and Prince Philip later toured Titanic Belfast, a new visitors' centre located near where the ship was built. She has also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit. | The Queen and Prince Philip later toured Titanic Belfast, a new visitors' centre located near where the ship was built. She has also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit. |
| She enjoyed a lunch which included traditional Irish soda bread, Comber potatoes, the sweet toffee yellow man, and icecream. | She enjoyed a lunch which included traditional Irish soda bread, Comber potatoes, the sweet toffee yellow man, and icecream. |
| Northern Ireland's first minister said thousands were waiting for the Queen at Stormont. | Northern Ireland's first minister said thousands were waiting for the Queen at Stormont. |
| "I am certain, you will receive a massive, unparalleled and enthusiastic expression of affection and fidelity," he told the Queen. | "I am certain, you will receive a massive, unparalleled and enthusiastic expression of affection and fidelity," he told the Queen. |
| "I know for many in the media, the focus has been on a handshake and a photograph, but for most people in Northern Ireland it is not about one moment of history but the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for 60 very full years of Your Majesty's service to this nation." | "I know for many in the media, the focus has been on a handshake and a photograph, but for most people in Northern Ireland it is not about one moment of history but the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for 60 very full years of Your Majesty's service to this nation." |
| 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. |