Queen shakes Martin McGuinness' hand in Belfast
In an historic encounter, the Queen has shaken the hand of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.
Signs of peace: Handshakes we thought we would never see
Today's handshake between the Queen and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness is a historic gesture of peace. Here are some others.
Queen to shake hands with Martin McGuinness
The hands of history? The Queen and former IRA Commander Martin McGuinness will make a remarkable gesture for peace today.
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Paterson: 'It's about a shared future, not a shored-out future'
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson met Mr McGuinness this morning and added that he was relaxed.
He said the Deputy First Minister greeted the Queen in Irish and their meeting was cordial.
It had obviously gone very well.This will move Northern Ireland on to a whole new plane. After all the trauma of Northern Ireland, everyone is looking forward.It is about a shared future, not a shared-out future.
None of this could have happened a few years ago so it is all looking to the future.
He said it was absolutely appropriate that when the Queen visits parts of the UK, she meets local politicians, democratically elected, pursuing their democratic political goals by peaceful means.
Mr Paterson added that it built on the success of the Queen's visit to the Republic of Ireland last year.
Crowds gather ahead of Queen's Stormont visit
The Queen is expected to visit Stormont later today.
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McGuinness: 'Queen's visit is powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership'
It is understood that during the VIPs' initial private meeting, Mr McGuinness welcomed both the Queen and President 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.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "He emphasised the need to acknowledge the pain of all victims of the conflict and their families."
Mr 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 Mr McGuinness told the Queen that their meeting was a "powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership".
The Deputy First Minister also praised the role of the President in today's encounter, and welcomed that the engagement took place at an event celebrating culture across Ireland.
Republican Network for Unity: 'McGuinness is playing with words'
Ciaran Cunningham from the Republican Network for Unity has spoken to ITV News' Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart about the handshake between Martin McGuinness and the Queen.
Mr Cunningham said that, "Martin McGuinness is playing with words," when he says he is still a republican.
Republican Network for Unity: 'McGuinness has lost all logic and sense'
Ciaran Cunningham from the Republican Network for Unity has said that:
Martin McGuinness has lost all logic and he lost all sense and he has lost all respect.
Martin McGuinness is playing with words, he's trying to make the word Republican mean something that it doesn't mean.
The moment the Queen shook the hand of Martin McGuinness
The Queen publicly shakes the hand of former IRA member Martin McGuinness in an historic moment in Belfast.
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Queen shakes hands with Martin McGuinness
The Queen has shaken hands in public with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness in a gesture of reconciliation.
Mr Guinness held the monarch's hands for a few moments, spoke to her in Irish and told her the words meant: "Goodbye and God's speed."
Downing Street: 'The Queen should meet representatives from across the community'
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.
Queen shakes Martin McGuinness' hand in Belfast
In an historic encounter, the Queen has shaken the hand of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.
Read the full storyQueen shakes hands with McGuinness
The Queen has shaken the hand of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness in an historic encounter that would have seemed unthinkable just a decade ago.
They met behind closed doors in a room within Belfast's Lyric Theatre during an event celebrating the arts in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
In a quiet space used by the Lyric for creative learning, the two were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson, Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina.
Called the McGrath Suite, named in honour of benefactor Harvey McGrath, the former chairman of the British insurer Prudential, and his wife Allison, the room is usually filled with toddlers enjoying story telling sessions or drama students taking part in workshops.
Today it was sparsely furnished with leather seating - four chairs and a sofa - set around a round wooden table decorated with flowers, with refreshments of tea, coffee and still and sparkling water on a side table.
The floor-to-ceiling windows, which look out on to landscaped gardens and the River Lagan, were covered with curtains.
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