Duke 'polite but no more' to McGuinness during N Ireland visit

The Queen has shaken hands with a former commander of the IRA, Martin McGuinness, now the Deputy First Minister, in a symbolic moment for the Northern Ireland peace process.

The meeting was particularly symbolic as the IRA paramilitary group murdered the Queen's cousin, Lord Mountbatten, while he was on holiday in the Republic of Ireland in 1979.

William Evans, Lord Mountbatten's assistant for ten years up until his death, noticed how Prince Philip moved away as Mr McGuinness seemed to advance to speak to him.

Mr Evans said the Duke, who was close to Lord Mountbatten, would have been polite during the meeting but "no more".