The Prince of Wales shakes hands with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams at the National University of Ireland in Galway

Royal visit to Ireland...Classiebawn Castle in Mullaghmore Co Sligo which used to be owned by Lord Mountbatten as the town is to be visited by the Prince Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall later this month. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 15, 2015. See PA story ROYAL Ireland. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire...A

PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. Mary Hornsey 'The Mother of Paul Maxwell, who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979

Britain Queen Elizabeth II...Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, centre with back to camera, are greeted on their arrival at London Airort, on Feb. 7, 1952. The royal couple cut short their official trip to Kenya and returned home following the death of King George VI. Prince Philip is talking to Earl Mountbatten of Burma, left. (AP Photo)...A

14th March 1956: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 - 1964) and Dr Radhakrishnan (1888 - 1975) welcoming Viscount Louis Mountbatten (1900 - 1979) and his wife to India at New Delhi Airport. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

11th May 1937: Lord Louis Mountbatten chats to a spectator at a polo match at Hurlingham. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. A Collect of Paul Maxwell,It was the last ever picture taken of him who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979

Library filer from 1965 of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Irish Government rejected an offer from Lord Mountbatten for the free use of his castle in County Sligo, according to newly-released files. The former Earl of Burma, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979, had inherited Classiebawn Castle after the death of his wife. He wrote to the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave in March 1975 to offer the castle to the state as a gesture to cement his family's close connection with Ireland.

Library filer dated 16/07/1959 of Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was a key figure in the partition of India and Pakistan.

Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh...RCO 244-43 (23327-02) Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh Obligatory Credit - CAMERA PRESS/ Arthur Edwards Pictured in 1977 at a polo match at Windsor; Prince Charles (L), and Lord Mountbatten (C), with Prince Philip (R).

Lady Edwina Mountbatten (1901 - 1960) with Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 - 1964) at a reception given for him by the Indian High Commissioner in London at Kensington Palace Gardens, 11th February 1955. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

File photo dated 20/11/1947 Princess Elizabeth, now Queen, and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, now the Duke of Edinburgh with their eight bridesmaids in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, on their wedding day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

In this file photo taken in August 1947 and released by Indian Ministry of Defense, Indian last Governor General Lord Mountbatten salutes the Indian national flag hosted at India Gate as Lady Edwina, second right, and India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru,right, looks on, during independence day celebrations, in New Delhi, India, August 1947. Sixty years ago this month, India and Pakistan won their Independence, now Pakistan, no stranger to domestic turmoil, is embroiled in an increasingly violent struggle between Islamic extremists and moderates, where as India is racing to become an economic powerhouse, lightning growth has transformed the country and fueled a consumer boom. (AP Photo/Indian Ministry of Defense, HO, File)

Paul was killed aged 15 in the IRA blast which claimed the life of Earl Mountbatten in 1979

Police frogmen at the scene of the murders of Lord Mountbatten and others in 1979

Timothy Knatchbull is taken into an ambulance after the IRA bomb attack in 1979 which killed his uncle Lord Mountbatten

PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. A Collect of Paul Maxwell with his sister Lisa , who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979

A meeting in the Republic between Prince Charles and Gerry Adams today is only going ahead because the Queen insisted, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

The main political parties in the Republic had strongly objected to the behind-closed-doors meeting on the campus of the National University of Ireland, Galway.

But they were forced to back down at the 11th hour after Buckingham Palace officials insisted that it went ahead.

One senior London source familiar with the negotiations said: "The resistance of the southern Irish Government was eventually broken by the enthusiastic support of the Queen and Prince Charles.

Expand Close A meeting in the Republic between Prince Charles and Gerry Adams today is only going ahead because the Queen insisted Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A meeting in the Republic between Prince Charles and Gerry Adams today is only going ahead because the Queen insisted

"The other party leaders will get a private five-minute meeting to provide political cover."

The historic meeting, which also involves Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, will be held away from cameras, making a handshake more likely between the republican leader and the royal whose favourite uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten was blown up by the IRA.

With Dail elections to take place next year, and TDs concerned about Sinn Fein 'hijacking' Easter Rising centenary events, the parties in Dublin had fiercely opposed Mr Adams being portrayed as a peacemaker in the south.

However, sources said that after her groundbreaking handshake with former IRA commander Mr McGuinness at Belfast's Lyric Theatre in 2011, the Queen wanted to make another political gesture. A Buckingham Palace source said: "The past is the past. It is time to move forward."

And Sinn Fein chairman Declan Kearney said: "This was agreed to promote the process of resolving past injustices and promoting reconciliation and healing."

The meeting with Mr Adams comes ahead of a visit to the Sligo site of his great-uncle's murder and is widely seen as the next phase in ever deepening relations, friendships and bonds between the UK and Ireland.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. A Collect of Paul Maxwell with his sister Lisa , who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979 The body is brought ashore Timothy Knatchbull is taken into an ambulance after the IRA bomb attack in 1979 which killed his uncle Lord Mountbatten Police frogmen at the scene of the murders of Lord Mountbatten and others in 1979 Paul was killed aged 15 in the IRA blast which claimed the life of Earl Mountbatten in 1979 In this file photo taken in August 1947 and released by Indian Ministry of Defense, Indian last Governor General Lord Mountbatten salutes the Indian national flag hosted at India Gate as Lady Edwina, second right, and India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru,right, looks on, during independence day celebrations, in New Delhi, India, August 1947. Sixty years ago this month, India and Pakistan won their Independence, now Pakistan, no stranger to domestic turmoil, is embroiled in an increasingly violent struggle between Islamic extremists and moderates, where as India is racing to become an economic powerhouse, lightning growth has transformed the country and fueled a consumer boom. (AP Photo/Indian Ministry of Defense, HO, File) 1977 at a polo match at Windsor; Prince Charles, and Lord Mountbatten with Prince Philip File photo dated 20/11/1947 Princess Elizabeth, now Queen, and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, now the Duke of Edinburgh with their eight bridesmaids in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, on their wedding day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. PA Wire Lady Edwina Mountbatten (1901 - 1960) with Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 - 1964) at a reception given for him by the Indian High Commissioner in London at Kensington Palace Gardens, 11th February 1955. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Lord Mountbatten MSI Earl Mountbatten Funeral Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh...RCO 244-43 (23327-02) Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh Obligatory Credit - CAMERA PRESS/ Arthur Edwards Pictured in 1977 at a polo match at Windsor; Prince Charles (L), and Lord Mountbatten (C), with Prince Philip (R). Noel Coward(left) with Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Library filer dated 16/07/1959 of Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was a key figure in the partition of India and Pakistan. Library filer from 1965 of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Irish Government rejected an offer from Lord Mountbatten for the free use of his castle in County Sligo, according to newly-released files. The former Earl of Burma, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979, had inherited Classiebawn Castle after the death of his wife. He wrote to the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave in March 1975 to offer the castle to the state as a gesture to cement his family's close connection with Ireland. PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. A Collect of Paul Maxwell,It was the last ever picture taken of him who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979 Lord Mountbatten:Murdered by the IRA 11th May 1937: Lord Louis Mountbatten chats to a spectator at a polo match at Hurlingham. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) 14th March 1956: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 - 1964) and Dr Radhakrishnan (1888 - 1975) welcoming Viscount Louis Mountbatten (1900 - 1979) and his wife to India at New Delhi Airport. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Lord Mountbatten in navy uniform 1965 Britain Queen Elizabeth II...Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, centre with back to camera, are greeted on their arrival at London Airort, on Feb. 7, 1952. The royal couple cut short their official trip to Kenya and returned home following the death of King George VI. Prince Philip is talking to Earl Mountbatten of Burma, left. (AP Photo)...A / Facebook

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Whatsapp PACEMAKER PRESS INTL BELFAST 26/8/09. A Collect of Paul Maxwell with his sister Lisa , who was murdered with Lord Louis Mountbatten by an IRA bomb while sailing near his holiday home in County Sligo, Ireland, on 27th August, 1979

Charles, who will be accompanied by wife Camilla on his first official visit to Ireland in 13 years, will make an emotional trip to Mullaghmore tomorrow where 79-year-old Mountbatten was killed in a 1979 IRA bomb attack as he set off in a boat with others to check lobster pots.

The royal couple will arrive in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

A spokesman for the Queen said: "As with all official overseas visits undertaken by Members of the Royal Family, The Queen was consulted, but the programme was drawn up on the advice of Government".

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