McGuinness indicates he is prepared to meet Queen during her North visit

Martin McGuinness has indicated that he may be prepared to meet Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, acknowledging for the first time that she impressed him during her visit to Ireland in May 2011.

The Queen is due to visit the North this summer as part of her diamond jubilee celebrations.

Last May, Mr McGuinness, the Northern Ireland deputy first minister, along with Sinn Féin leadership, refused to attend any functions she attended.