The Queen and the Sinn Féin politician join in gesture that would once have been unthinkable

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Anglo-Irish relations took a momentous step forward on Wednesday when the Queen shook hands with Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.

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, when her conciliatory words and gestures won over many critics of the monarchy, paved the way for their meeting.

The much-anticipated first handshake took place away from the media spotlight behind closed doors.

They later shook hands in public. McGuinness held the monarch's hands for a few moments and spoke to her in Irish. He told her the words meant: "Goodbye and God's speed."

McGuinness was a senior member of the IRA when it killed the Queen's cousin Lord Mountbatten in a bomb blast in 1979.

The Queen is the head of Britain's armed forces, seen in the past by Republicans as occupying troops in Northern Ireland.

The pair met 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, the Northern Ireland first minister, Peter Robinson, the Irish president, Michael D Higgins, and his wife, Sabina.

The McGrath Suite – named in honour of benefactor Harvey McGrath, former chairman of British insurer Prudential, and his wife, Allison – is usually filled with toddlers enjoying storytelling sessions or drama students taking part in workshops.

But on Wednesday it was sparsely furnished with leather seating – four chairs and a sofa – set around a circular wooden table decorated with flowers, with tea, coffee and still and sparkling water on a side table.

The floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on to landscaped gardens and the river Lagan were covered with curtains.