NI's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness reveals he once slept in the Queen's bed at Hillsborough Castle.
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister
Martin McGuinness raised a few laughs -
and perhaps just as many eyebrows -
when he revealed he had slept in the
Queen's bed at Hillsborough Castle.
Mr McGuinness, a former IRA leader,
told the story during an after dinner
speech at the 18th century castle, the
Queen's official residence in Northern
Ireland.
Hillsborough was used during hot-house
political talks in 2010 over the transfer
of policing powers to Stormont from
Westminster.
Mr McGuinness told 150 delegates
attending a gala opening of the
international business conference that
Sinn Féin was assigned the Queen's
bedroom during days of negotiations
with the Government.
"We were lucky enough that we were
allocated the Queen's bedroom," he said,
causing an outbreak of chuckling among
the audience.
"I do not want you to tell anybody ... "
Cue more laughter.
"But I had a snooze in her bed," smiled
Mr McGuinness, before adding: "She was
not in it, so no scandal attached."
With the TV cameras focused on Mr
McGuinness, the reaction of some of
those in the room, including First
Minister Peter Robinson and Secretary of
State Theresa Villiers, is not recorded.
It is also unclear if one was not amused
at Buckingham Palace ...
