THE Prince of Wales has begun a poignant trip to Ireland with a historic handshake with Gerry Adams, one of the most prominent and controversial republican figures of the last 50 years.
Charles agreed to the meeting after a request by the Sinn Fein president in a move which would have been unthinkable until a few years ago and sets the tone for the four day visit.
The two men smiled at each other as they shook hands for several seconds and exchanged words in a packed hall as the prince toured the National University of Ireland Galway in the first engagement of his packed agenda.
Charles was holding a cup and saucer of tea as he cordially greeted Mr Adams, who leaned forward to speak close to the Prince's ear several times. He then introduced the royal to the man standing next to him, before Charles continued down a line of assembled dignitaries.
Mr Adams is the most senior republican to meet the Prince and it comes after his party colleague Martin McGuinness, the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister and former IRA commander, shook hands with Charles at a state banquet in Windsor Castle last year and met the Queen in 2012.
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