Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is to meet with Martin McGuinness when she visits Northern Ireland

OHMYGOSSIP — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will meet Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, a former IRA leader, Martin McGuinness when she visits the country later this month. The country’s Deputy First Minister has confirmed he will greet the monarch when she and husband Prince Philip visit Belfast later this month.

Mr McGuinness, a former IRA leader, said: “In my capacity as Deputy First Minister and as a representative of all our people I will be meeting with Queen Elizabeth.

“The visit by Queen Elizabeth is an opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect and to further build on the process of reconciliation.

“Despite the current difficulties, I am determined to provide positive, forward-thinking political leadership.”

Mr McGuinness previously toasted Queen Elizabeth in April during a banquet at Windsor Castle as part of Irish president Michael D. Higgins’ state visit to Britain.

Queen Elizabeth’s trip to Northern Ireland will take place between June 23 and June 25, and marks her first visit to the country since her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.

The monarch has just returned from France, where she took part in the 70th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings.