Martin McGuinness has praised Queen Elizabeth saying the British monarch has been a 'staunch supporter' of the Northern Ireland peace process.
The Deputy First Minister will attend a state banquet at Windsor Castle during the first official visit of an Irish president to the UK this week.
President Michael D Higgins says he was moved by the Queen's trip to the Irish Republic three years ago.
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore says it's a significant development, given the fact that Mr McGuinness refused to meet with Queen Elizabeth during her state visit to Ireland three years ago.
