Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army commander, on Wednesday, June 27. What might seem like a simple handshake marks a historic step forward in the peace process relating to British rule of Northern Ireland.
Not just a handshake —
Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army commander, on Wednesday, June 27. What might seem like a simple handshake marks a historic step forward in the peace process relating to British rule of Northern Ireland.
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Republicans protest in the streets of Dublin, Ireland, against the hanging of IRA volunteers by the British government in 1921. The IRA was created in 1919 with the purpose of ending British rule in Northern Ireland through armed force.
Not just a handshake —
Republicans protest in the streets of Dublin, Ireland, against the hanging of IRA volunteers by the British government in 1921. The IRA was created in 1919 with the purpose of ending British rule in Northern Ireland through armed force.
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An illustration in the French newspaper Le Petit Journal Illustre portrays the assassination of British Field Marshal Henry Hughes Wilson by two IRA members in 1922.
Not just a handshake —
An illustration in the French newspaper Le Petit Journal Illustre portrays the assassination of British Field Marshal Henry Hughes Wilson by two IRA members in 1922.
Leemage/UIG/Getty Images
A car sits in rubble at the scene of an IRA bombing in Coventry, England, in 1939. The bomb was planted in the basket of a tradesman's bicycle and killed five people.
Not just a handshake —
A car sits in rubble at the scene of an IRA bombing in Coventry, England, in 1939. The bomb was planted in the basket of a tradesman's bicycle and killed five people.
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A British soldier drags a Catholic protester on "Bloody Sunday," when British paratroopers shot and killed 13 Catholic civil rights marchers in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on January 30, 1972. Shortly after, the Irish Republican Army declared that its immediate policy was "to kill as many British soldiers as possible."
Not just a handshake —
A British soldier drags a Catholic protester on "Bloody Sunday," when British paratroopers shot and killed 13 Catholic civil rights marchers in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on January 30, 1972. Shortly after, the Irish Republican Army declared that its immediate policy was "to kill as many British soldiers as possible."
AFP/Getty Images
Damage caused by an IRA bombing on March 8, 1973, litters a street in London. That year, the IRA resolved to expand its attacks to create more violence in mainland Britain.
Not just a handshake —
Damage caused by an IRA bombing on March 8, 1973, litters a street in London. That year, the IRA resolved to expand its attacks to create more violence in mainland Britain.
Central Press/Getty Images
The funeral procession of Lord Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of the queen's husband, is held in the streets of London in September 1979. Mountbatten was assassinated by the IRA while on vacation in Ireland.
Not just a handshake —
The funeral procession of Lord Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of the queen's husband, is held in the streets of London in September 1979. Mountbatten was assassinated by the IRA while on vacation in Ireland.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Masked IRA members lead the funeral procession of Martin Hurson, an IRA prisoner who died after 46 days on hunger strike, in Northern Ireland in July 1981. Nine others on hunger strike died as well, and the event helped further politicize the organization.
Not just a handshake —
Masked IRA members lead the funeral procession of Martin Hurson, an IRA prisoner who died after 46 days on hunger strike, in Northern Ireland in July 1981. Nine others on hunger strike died as well, and the event helped further politicize the organization.
Hennessy/Keystone/Getty Images
A bombing by the IRA at the Docklands in London on February 9, 1996, ended a 17-month ceasefire made in 1994.
Not just a handshake —
A bombing by the IRA at the Docklands in London on February 9, 1996, ended a 17-month ceasefire made in 1994.
AFP/Getty Images
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams voices his approval in 1999 of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace treaty and power-sharing agreement between the Irish and British signed a year ealier.
Not just a handshake —
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams voices his approval in 1999 of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace treaty and power-sharing agreement between the Irish and British signed a year ealier.
Getty Images
Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness announces that the IRA will end its armed campaign but will not disband in July 2005.
Not just a handshake —
Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness announces that the IRA will end its armed campaign but will not disband in July 2005.
Getty Images
A mural in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, marks what some see as the end of the traditional IRA.
Not just a handshake —
A mural in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, marks what some see as the end of the traditional IRA.
AFP/Getty Images
Protestors gather in Dublin to demonstrate against the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland on May 17, 2011. Her visit marked the first by a British monarch to the Irish Republic.
Not just a handshake —
Protestors gather in Dublin to demonstrate against the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland on May 17, 2011. Her visit marked the first by a British monarch to the Irish Republic.
AFP/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip ride through the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday, June 27, surrounded by supporters.
Not just a handshake —
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip ride through the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday, June 27, surrounded by supporters.
AFP/Getty Images