Historic handshake ‘was to prevent awkwardness’
IT IS one of the defining symbolic moments in Northern Ireland’s recent history — but a new book has claimed that the Queen only shook the hand of Martin McGuinness to avoid any awkwardness.
The gesture took place back in 2012 when the former IRA commander was Deputy First Minister.
It took place at the Lyric Theatre in south Belfast when the Queen was on an official visit to the province with the Duke of Edinburgh.
But new revelations from Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman claim that the monarch was also embarrassed by shaking Mr McGuinness’ hand.
The journalist interviewed former Prime Minister David Cameron who said the Queen informed him of how she actually felt about the situation, and it wasn’t the response he was expecting.
Mr Cameron told the author: “I think it was the most transformative bit of diplomacy I have seen. It was amazing.”
However, the Queen allegedly responded by saying: “What was I meant to do? Of course I shook his hand. It would be awkward not to.” Mr Cameron added: “She was, as ever, not sure what all the fuss was about.” Mr Hardman’s book, Queen of the World, was published earlier this month by Penguin. Sinn Fein politician Mr McGuinness died last year from amyloidosis, a rare genetic condition. He was diagnosed with the disease in December 2016. Upon meeting the Queen, Mr McGuinness greeted her in Irish before telling her that their meeting was a “powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership”.
He was appointed second-in-command of the Provisional IRA in Londonderry’s Bogside in 1969, before later moving into politics alongside Gerry Adams.
The Queen’s cousin, Lord Mountbatten, was killed in Co Sligo in 1979 by the IRA.
In early 2017, Mr McGuinness resigned from his role as Deputy First Minister, citing the RHI scandal as a main factor.
Mr Hardman’s book also goes into great detail about holidays on board the Royal Yacht Britannia where the Queen was able to gain a sense of “normality” away from her duties. The book’s release coincides with an ITV documentary filmed over a oneyear period, giving a behind the scenes look into the private life of the royals.