The Queen

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the handshake between the Queen and Martin McGuinness in Belfast will be captured on camera.

The deputy first minister and former IRA commander will meet the Queen at the Lyric Theatre on Wednesday, reports the BBC.

A huge security presence has been put in place in the area ahead of her arrival.

Seven people will be present during a private meeting.

The Queen will be accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip and her private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt.

The First Minister Peter Robinson will be there along with McGuinness and the Irish President Michael D Higgins, and his wife, Sabina.

The event at the Lyric has been organised by charity Co-Operation Ireland, which works to bring divided communities together.

Its chief executive, Peter Sheridan, said the handshake would be "hugely significant" and would show people "we are in life beyond conflict".

The Queen's initial meeting with McGuinness will be in private.

However, the cameras will roll as the Queen, Prince Philip, the Irish president and the first and deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland look at paintings and meet leading local artists.

Those present are expected to include the pianist Barry Douglas, poet Michael Longley and actors Adrian Dunbar and Conleth Hill.

It is understood the recorded handshake will take place as they are leaving the event.

The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: "The first handshake will be in private, that seems to be what all the participants wanted during that ice-breaker meeting.

"Then they will mingle and then they will shake hands as they leave."

He said it was unclear if the conversation between the Queen and Mr McGuinness would be recorded on camera.

"The other issue that may yet be dominating the airwaves in the coming hours, is will the one reporter who is there and the one cameraman who is there be able to record the sound of what is said," he said.

"There is some suggestion, some thought, that maybe they won't.

"We may end up having mute pictures broadcast on the BBC later of that encounter and if that were to be the case, I can't imagine everyone would necessarily be happy with that outcome."

BBC Northern Ireland's political editor, Mark Devenport said the occasion had been specifically designed to meet Sinn Fein's sensitivities and to ensure that a ground-breaking encounter could take place.

"It is being stressed the arts event has a cross-border dimension and is not part of the Jubilee celebrations," he said.

"That is in contrast to the huge party planned for Stormont, which is a celebration of the Queen's 60-year reign organised by the Northern Ireland Office."

Around 20,000 people are expected to attend the event at Stormont on Wednesday.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Northern Ireland on Tuesday for a two-day visit.

The royal couple stayed at Hillsborough Castle overnight.