That handshake
by Ken Reid, Political Editor
Published Tuesday, 12 June 2012
A republican stopped me in the Great Hall in Stormont.
"Amid all this fuss," he said, "no-one has mentioned that Peter Robinson has not shaken hands with Martin McGuinness in public."
He said Sinn Féin had no problem doing this but the DUP seemed reluctant.
An interesting observation and there is no doubt the topic of the royal visit is the source of much speculation at the moment.
What we do know is the Queen will host a Diamond Jubilee party in the Stormont estate on June 27 and Sinn Féin will not be there.
However, that does not mean Martin McGuinness will not meet the Queen at some stage during the two day visit.
The Sinn Féin leadership is annoyed the announcement of the garden party was made by the NIO last Friday.
Who knew the exact details remains a matter of some controversy but Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams maintain there is still no ''do-able'' proposition presently for a meeting with the Queen.
But significantly they did not rule it out.
Much work is taking place behind the scenes and a number of possible options are being explored.
A senior Sinn Féin figure told me the party would do nothing to damage the progress which is being made.
Doubtless there will be much negotiating in the next fortnight.
As for the handshake between Martin McGuinness and the Queen... don't rule it out!