Martin McGuinness

Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland has praised the Queen as a passionate supporter of the Northern Ireland peace process after they held their first ever one to one meeting.

The Sinn Fein veteran and former IRA commander described his ten minute private audience with the monarch at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down as "very nice" and "useful".

It was the Queen's third encounter with Mr McGuinness but their first on an individual to individual basis, an event that some see as an effort to 'normalise' relations between Irish republicans and the British establishment in the post conflict era.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit one of the few thrones in the British Isles that does not belong to them - by taking a tour of the Game of Thrones set in east Belfast.

Game of Thrones follows the epic battle for the Iron Throne, as north fights south in a dynastic civil war based on the Wars of the Roses.

The Royal Couple will tour the Painthall studios in the city's regenerated docklands where much of the popular HBO series is filmed.

Northern Ireland is fast developing an international reputation as a leading filming destination, with the powersharing administration at Stormont offering attractive incentives to producers to film in the region.

Game Of Thrones is estimated to be the biggest TV production in Europe and its first four seasons have been credited with bringing a direct economic benefit of £82 million to Northern Ireland, creating the equivalent of more than 900 full-time and 5,700 part-time jobs.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the fatal shooting of Tommy Crossan, saying:

Lord Tebbit has come under fire after suggesting he hoped Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness would be "shot in the back".

The former Conservative chairman, who was himself injured in the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, suggested Mr McGuinness' presence yesterday at a state banquet with the Queen might anger hardline Republicans.

"There's always the possibility that a member of the Real IRA will be so outraged by Mr McGuinness bowing to the Queen that they might shoot him in the back for it. We can but hope," he said.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams expressed outrage at the comments, saying:

"To publicly advocate the assassination of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is a shocking throwback to a violent past from which we are seeking to move on."

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has hailed a "new and positive relationship" between "all of Ireland and Britain" as it was announced that Martin McGuinness would attend an Irish state banquet hosted by the Queen.

"While Martin McGuinness's involvement in President Higgins's state visit may not be welcome by opponents of change, it is yet another example of Sinn Fein's commitment to an inclusive future based on tolerance and equality," he said.

He continued: "This decision may cause difficulty for some Irish republicans in light of ongoing difficulties in the north (of Ireland) but I would appeal to them to view this positively in the context of republican and democratic objectives and the interests of unity and peace on this island."

The banquet, in honour of Irish President Michael D Higgins, will be hosted at Windsor castle next week.

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness will attend a state banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of the Irish president hosted by the Queen, it has been confirmed.

Stormont's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said should the First Minister resign it would achieve "absolutely nothing".

Asked what he thought of Peter Robinson's threat to leave his post, he said: "I have to ask the question, what would that achieve?

"It could lead to an election and Sinn Fein has no difficulty with elections ... but what would that achieve? In my view absolutely nothing."

Mr McGuinness urged politicians to "stop the grandstanding" and stressed "steady leadership, responsible leadership" is needed going forward.

Read: Govt 'urgently looking into call for secret letters inquiry

Stormont's Deputy First Minister will hold talks with the Northern Ireland Secretary as a political crisis triggered by the collapse of the Hyde Park bombing case continues to threaten the future of the devolved administration in Belfast.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Theresa Villiers are set to meet at Stormont Castle to discuss the controversy that prompted First Minister Peter Robinson to threaten to resign.

The Democratic Unionist leader has effectively given the UK Government 24 hours to respond to his demand for a public inquiry into secret letters sent to IRA suspects that assured them they would not be prosecuted.

Read: Govt 'urgently' looking into call for NI secret letters inquiry

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has condemned a reported explosion in Lurgan, County Armagh.

Mr McGuinness wrote on Twitter:

Martin McGuinness has resigned as Mid-Ulster MP.

He said this was in line with Sinn Fein's commitment to end double jobbing and planned to concentrate on his job as Stormont MLA and deputy First Minister.

Francie Molloy will run for the seat in his place.

Mr McGuinness said: "I am resigning as MP but I have no intention of leaving Mid-Ulster. South Derry and East Tyrone have suffered immensely as a result of the conflict.

"I will always be grateful to the people of this area for trusting me to represent them and their interests.

"I will of course continue to represent the Mid-Ulster constituency in the Assembly. I am honoured to do so both as an MLA and as deputy First Minister in equal partnership with Peter Robinson."

He was elected MP for Mid-Ulster in 1997.