Charles To Visit Scene Of Great Uncle's Murder

Prince Charles will continue his visit to Ireland today with one of the most personal pilgrimages he is ever likely to undertake.

Together with the Duchess of Cornwall he will visit Mullaghmore in Co Sligo, where his great uncle and confidante Lord Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA.

On Tuesday, in Galway, he demonstrated his willingness to engage in reconciliation by meeting Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

Not only did he shake Mr Adams' hand in public , he also had a private meeting with the leading republicans.

Neither the Prince nor his aides have made any comment about what was discussed, but afterwards Mr Adams told reporters: "Reconciliation is an enormous challenge for all of us.

"It is a personal process of dialogue, engagement and compromise.

"It's about healing the past and building a new, better and fairer future based on equality."

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It was a vivid demonstration of how much Anglo-Irish relations have changed, and how far Sinn Fein has come in being accepted as a political party despite its roots in armed struggle.

On the same August 1979 day that the IRA bombed Lord Mountbatten's boat, killing him, two of his relatives and a local teenager, a total of 18 soldiers were killed by bombs in Warrenpoint.

At the time, republicans hailed it as one of their finest days for taking the life of a senior member of the Royal Family, but also murdering 16 members of the Parachute Regiment which they blamed for the killing of civilians on Bloody Sunday in 1972.

The Prince of Wales is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment. Relatives of those who were killed in Derry, as well as other shooting incidents involving the paras in Belfast, have been critical of his visit.

But in Sligo, the Royal couple will not only meet those connected to Lord Mountbatten and who helped rescue others who were injured in the bombing, they will also take part in a church service of reconciliation.

Lord Mountbatten, the Queen's cousin and the last Viceroy of India, had a holiday home near Mullaghmore.

He was a frequent visitor at the height of Ulster's Troubles despite fears for his security.

He had a very close relationship with Prince Charles, but today's visit to the town is not expected to be a sombre occasion as the heir to the throne continues to demonstrate his commitment to a shared future rather than dwelling on the past.