LONDON -- It was a historic handshake. The future British king met Gerry Adams, the Sinn Féin leader who repeatedly has denied being a member of the IRA, the armed movement that long sought to overthrow British rule.
Prince Charles' official visit to Ireland not only included shaking Adams' hand but also a visit to Mullaghmore a small fishing village in County Sligo where his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.
The handshake took place during an event in Galway, after the prince agreed to the request by the Sinn Féin leader, according to The Irish Times.
Breaking: Prince Charles meets @GerryAdamsSF. First Royal to meet SF President https://t.co/CbCzrDkyK8— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) May 19, 2015
Speaking after the meeting with Adams, Prince Charles thanked Ireland for welcoming him.
HRH: "You have a wonderful spirit you really do, and there is a unique magic about Ireland which is totally irresistible" #RoyalVisitIreland— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) May 19, 2015
Charles and his wife Camilla are on a four-day tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It's the prince's third trip to the Republic since the IRA called a cease-fire in 1994.
On Wednesday, he will plant a tree in Mullaghmore in honour of his great-uncle who along with three others were killed while holidaying at his summer home Classiebawn Castle. A bomb had been placed in his fishing boat, which was detonated once it was off shore. The IRA later claimed responsibility for the blast.