On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh continued their visit to Northern Ireland.

The day began with a “historic handshake” with former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander, Sinn Féin party member and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Martin McGuinness, at the Lyric theatre in Belfast.  According to Time magazine, due to the:

Underlying the sensitivity of the occasion, no live footage or sound was permitted to be broadcast. Outside, flak-jacketed police shut down all roads surrounding the theater and told residents to stay inside their homes.

The first soundless TV footage showed a serious-faced McGuinness walking, hands behind his back, behind the queen as she met poet Michael Longley and pianist Barry Douglas in front of newly painted portraits of them and other Belfast artists. Also in the group was McGuinness’ Protestant colleague atop Northern Ireland’s unity government, Peter Robinson; the head of state of the Republic of Ireland, President Michael D. Higgins; and the queen’s husband, Prince Philip.

Also on today’s agenda was a visit to a “… Diamond Jubilee event in the grounds of the Stormont Estate…” in Belfast.

Click the links below to watch videos, read articles as well as to view photos.

• VIDEO
• VIDEO 2
• Article
• Article with videos
• Gallery One

Sources: Royal.gov.uk, Time, and Daylife

On June 26, 2012, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy where he met with members of Team GB’s Olympic sailing team.

During his surprise visit the Prince of Wales christened a new British Olympic 49er boat with Palmers Dorset Gold beer.  According to the Press Association, as the Prince of  Wales, “… poured the ale over the white sailing boat…” he named it ‘Lovely Rita’ after the Beatles song.

Source: Press Association

On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh began their two-day visit to Northern Ireland as part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

This afternoon Her Majesty and the duke visited the West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen as well as attended a service of Thanksgiving held at St. Macartin’s Church of Ireland Cathedral.  Afterward, Her Majesty and the duke “… met families of the victims of the 1987 Enniskillen Bombing in the Deanery…” according to the Buckingham Palace officials.

Tomorrow, Queen Elizabeth II will hold an “… historic meeting…” with former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander, Mr. Martin McGuinness.  Today,  Mr. McGuinness is a member of the Sinn Féin party and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

According to the Telegraph newspaper, the meeting will:

… take place at a celebration of culture at the Lyric theatre in Belfast which will also be attended by President of Ireland Michael D Higgins.

The Queen and Mr. McGuinness are set to meet initially in private alongside a handful of dignitaries and while a photograph of the moment was ruled out last week, sources have now said discussions are ongoing…

To read more about today’s events, watch videos as well as to view photos please click the links below.

• VIDEO
• VIDEO 2
• VIDEO 3
  
• Article
• Gallery One
• Gallery Two

Sources: Royal.gov.uk and Telegraph

On June 25, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Henley Business School, University of Reading, in Oxfordshire to attend the “…Henley-on-Thames Jubilee river pageant…” The purpose of today’s event was, again, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

Click the links below to read an article from the BBC News as well as to view photos.

• BBC News Article
• Gallery One

Sources: Royal.gov.uk and BBC News