The monarch’s foray into the Irish Sea on Tuesday turned back the clock to a more recent era when reconciliation between unionists and nationalists, and Ireland and Britain, seemed strong, even inevitable. The sun shone, leaders across the political divide found common ground, and for a few hours it felt like the heady period of a decade ago, when the royal family put balm on wounds left by centuries of conflict, creating hope for a more harmonious future. “If he does half as well as his mother, he will be brilliant,” said Jackie Graham, 78, as crowds gathered in Belfast to welcome the new monarch. Charles could revive the lost art of reconciliation, Graham said. “He should do it. When his mother came down to the Free State, the whole thing changed. I think Charlie could do that too.” Crowds cheered and waved union jacks as Charles and Camilla, the Queen consort, arrived at Hillsborough Castle in County Down and later St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. Nationalists and republicans whose allegiances lay elsewhere did not join in the cries of “God save the King”, but they too welcomed him, also condoled the death of Queen Elizabeth and also appeared to hope that the royal family could rekindle the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. “I hope you and your family can take solace in the appreciation and warmth that has accompanied the tributes to the Queen in these islands and indeed around the world,” Alex Muskie, Speaker of the Stormont assembly, told the King. A familiar sentiment, until now, except in this instance uttered by an ex-IRA prisoner and member of Sinn Féin, who during the riots defended deadly attacks on “crown forces” and Lord Louis Mountbatten, mentor of Prince Charles. When Queen Elizabeth visited the Republic of Ireland in 2011 and won an enthusiastic response with gestures of reconciliation, Sinn Féin followed suit. A year later Martin McGuinness shook her hand and in 2015 Gerry Adams shook hands with Prince Charles. It was a high point in Irish-British relations. “It showed how a small but significant gesture, a visit, a handshake, crossing the street or speaking a few words of Irish, can make a huge difference in changing attitudes and building relationships,” Maskey said. Others echoed the tributes, which amounted to an unspoken request: please do it again. Brexit has strained relations between nationalists and unionists, and between Dublin and London, creating a bitter political stalemate and a yearning in some quarters for another round of feel-good royal alchemy. Sinn Féin urged activists and supporters not to spoil the mood by eulogizing the Queen’s death – a command widely accepted and acknowledged by unionists cheering for the King. “Everyone respects them and they say the right things. That’s all you can ask for,’ said Iris Manson, 54, a Protestant, from Ballymena. Ben McAuley, 22, said he had seen some nationalists hail the Queen’s death on Facebook but was generally surprised. “I thought it would be a lot worse, but it wasn’t that bad. James McIlveen, 66, agreed: “The political reaction has been positive. One or two small incidents but generally pretty good.’ A Belfast Telegraph article praised Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labor Party and other nationalists for empathizing with grieving trade unionists in a rare outburst of solidarity. “Our politicians reflect the best of us and for that they deserve praise.” The Brexit truce continued at St Anne’s Cathedral, where the Irish Thai, Micheál Martin, literally sang from the same hymn sheet as Liz Truss and Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist MP, shook hands with Simon Coveney, the Irish Secretary of State. After the service the King returned to London and the congregation dispersed.
