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Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands | Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands |
(40 minutes later) | |
The final day of the Queen's two-day visit to Northern Ireland was marked by an historic handshake and a huge party. | The final day of the Queen's two-day visit to Northern Ireland was marked by an historic handshake and a huge party. |
Her Majesty and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness shook hands for the first time. | Her Majesty and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness shook hands for the first time. |
The meeting between the monarch and Northern Ireland's deputy first minister took place at a charity event in Belfast on Wednesday morning. | The meeting between the monarch and Northern Ireland's deputy first minister took place at a charity event in Belfast on Wednesday morning. |
In the afternoon she attended a Diamond Jubilee party attended by 20,000 in Stormont. | In the afternoon she attended a Diamond Jubilee party attended by 20,000 in Stormont. |
The Queen and Mr McGuinness shook hands at a private meeting and later shook hands in public. | The Queen and Mr McGuinness 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. |
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. |
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. |
Reconciliation | |
As they shook hands for a second time, Mr McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish, which translates as: "Goodbye and God bless." | As they shook hands for a second time, Mr McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish, which translates as: "Goodbye and God bless." |
When asked how it was to meet the Queen, Martin McGuinness replied "very nice." | When asked how it was to meet the Queen, Martin McGuinness replied "very nice." |
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. |
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. | 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." | 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." | 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. | "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. |
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 ice cream. | She enjoyed a lunch which included traditional Irish soda bread, Comber potatoes, the sweet toffee yellow man, and ice cream. |
At the end of the day the Queen and Prince Philip were driven through the grounds of Northern Ireland's seat of government in an open-topped vehicle. | At the end of the day the Queen and Prince Philip were driven through the grounds of Northern Ireland's seat of government in an open-topped vehicle. |
The royal motorcade was cheered by around 20,000 people attending a party to mark the monarch's 60-year reign. |