Queen's dignity in a handshake
The Queen today shook hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in one of the most symbolic moments in the history of The Troubles.
The Queen today shook hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in one of the most symbolic moments in the history of The Troubles.
The historic encounter, instigated by the Monarch, came 32 years after the IRA killed her cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten in a bomb blast.
The momentous step forward for Anglo—Irish relations began with a handshake away from the media spotlight behind closed doors.
They met in a room within Belfast's Lyric theatre during an event celebrating the arts in the Republic and Northern Ireland. But 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, Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish and told her that the phrase meant: "Goodbye and God's speed."
Prince Philip also shook hands with McGuinness, who was a senior member of the IRA when it assassinated Lord Mountbatten in 1979.
For many Republicans, the Queen is the head of Britain's Armed Forces, seen in the past as occupying troops in Northern Ireland. But today they both put that past behind them in the first meeting between Sinn Fein and the monarch.
In a quiet room, the two met and were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson, Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Their second handshake was recorded by cameras in images that were beamed around the world.
The Queen last year broke down barriers on both sides of the Irish border through her conciliatory words and gestures during her visit to the Republic. But today's meeting was even more significant.
Peter Sheridan, chief executive of Co-operation Ireland, a charity which promotes peace in Northern Ireland and the Republic, said the gesture would alter things irrevocably.
"From my perspective it's a huge act of reconciliation, you cannot underestimate how important this is," he added.
"Whoever would have thought we would ever be in this situation – I think it says a lot about healing, human dignity and treating each other with respect. I think after today all of us will say things have changed, for me that's the significance of it."
Asked how David Cameron viewed the handshake, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Clearly, there was a visit by Her Majesty to the Republic of Ireland last year.
"That has taken relations between the two countries to a new level.
"We think it is right that the Queen should meet representatives from all parts of the community."