The evolution of Sinn Féin's Royal relationship
Expect more of the same from the leader who wants to be "first minister for all" in the assembly chamber later.
Ms O'Neill will, along with the other party leaders, offer her condolences in person to King Charles III at Hillsborough on Tuesday.A Sinn Féin delegation will then join the King and Camila, the Queen Consort, at a special service marking the Queen's passing at St Anne's Cathedral.Those events are, says Sinn Féin, only for those who have an allegiance to the crown.
The fact the party has to remind the public where the boundaries are, reflects how far its relationship with the Royals has travelled.King Charles, who was then Prince Charles, shakes hands with then Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in Galway in 2015King Charles wrote what Mary Lou McDonald described as a "lovely letter" when she was recovering from Covid.
She wrote to the then Prince Charles and Queen to expresses her condolences at the passing of Prince Phillip. The expected attendance of the Sinn Féin president, or vice president at the Queen's funeral next week in London, will further cement that relationship.Does it show Sinn Féin as the party ready for government in the Republic?It may also prove to be a mood changer in the Stormont stalemate.Once the week of royal protocol is over, another protocol will be back at the heart of politics and parties will return to their trenches.