Queen's visit 'at most promising time for peace'

The Queen of England’s visit to the North could not have come at a more promising time for the peace process, the first minister said today.

The Rev Ian Paisley met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the East Belfast Mission church in the city today.

“The Queen visited his Northern Ireland many times before, but not I believe at a more promising time for the province,” he said.

“It seems at last that the days of violence are over and that people are prepared to abide by shared democratic standards.”

The Queen is on a three-day visit to the North culminating in tomorrow’s Maundy service at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.