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Queen Elizabeth shook hands with former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander Martin McGuinness twice in an extraordinary act of forgiveness during her visit to northern Ireland . According to Daily Mail, her cousin Lord Mountbatten of Burma was killed in an IRA bomb attack while he was holidaying with his family 33 years ago. The gesture of mutual acceptance and acknowledgement was an astonishing act of forgiveness by the Queen who adored her 'Uncle Dickie'. The meeting in Belfast was a hugely significant step for McGuinness, too. Despite the tensions on both sides, their encounter which, after much negotiation, was 'exceptionally gracious and even warm' insiders said. 'The Queen was relaxed, animated and interested to hear what McGuinness had to say,' said one. McGuinness spoke to the Queen in Irish and paid tribute to the speech she gave on becoming the first British monarch to visit Ireland for a century. Sinn Fein sources said that McGuinness made clear that he had been moved by her words in which she acknowledged the 'sad and regrettable' history of Britain 's troubled relationship with Ireland . Asked how it felt to meet the Queen, McGuinness said as he feft it was 'very nice' but reaffirmed that he was 'still a republican'. McGuinness has been open about his IRA past, but has always insisted he never killed anyone.

Queen makes historic hand shake with former 'blood on hands' IRA commander