Queen Elizabeth meets Martin McGuinness on NI visit

Monarch holds separate meetings with DUP’s Arlene Foster and SF’s McGuinness

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Hillsborough Castle. The British monarch starts a two-day visit to the province. Photograph: Getty Images
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Hillsborough Castle. The British monarch starts a two-day visit to the province. Photograph: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth held separate meetings with the North's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Hillsborough Castle on Monday evening.

The British monarch and her husband Prince Philip are in Northern Ireland on a two-day visit which on Tuesday is focused on the scenic north coast.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are will tour the Giant's Causeway in north Antrim and visit the nearby village of Bushmills on Tuesday where they will unveil a statue in honour of local man Robert Quigg. Quigg won the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago.

Steam train trip

They are also attending a private reception and civic lunch at Royal Portrush Golf Club which is to stage the British Open in 2019.

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In the afternoon the monarch and Prince Philip will take a steam train journey from Coleraine to the newly opened Bellarena station in Co Derry. This is her 25th visit to Northern Ireland.

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times