The historic encounter between the former IRA commander – now Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister – and the Queen was unthinkable a little over 10 years ago.
But the success of the peace process and the Queen’s acclaimed visit to the Republic of Ireland last year paved the way for their meeting.
The Queen and McGuinness first shook hands 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, British media reported.
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, McGuinness wished the Queen well in Irish and told her that the phrase meant: “Goodbye and God’s speed.”
It is understood that during the VIPs’ initial private meeting, McGuinness welcomed both the Queen and Irish President Michael D Higgins in Irish. The Deputy First Minister is said to have commented briefly on the Queen’s visit to Dublin last year, and in particular her comments regarding all the victims of the conflict.
“He emphasized the need to acknowledge the pain of all victims of the conflict and their families”, said a Sinn Fein spokesman.
McGuinness is said to have spoken to the Queen of the significance of her visit, and of the need for it to be built upon in the time ahead. Sinn Fein said McGuinness told the Queen that their meeting was a “powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership”.
MOL/JR/HE
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