President to meet British Queen in Belfast

President Mary McAleese is expected to meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth in Northern Ireland today.

Queen Elizabeth will also be greeted by Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley as he says his final farewells before retiring in May.

Today's meeting will be the sixth between Mrs McAleese and the Queen.

The British monarch was last in Northern Ireland in June 2007, at a party for the community and voluntary sector in Coleraine, Co Derry.

She also visited Northern Ireland in October 2006 for a review of the Royal Irish Regiment before they were disbanded last summer.

Last night the she was at Hillsborough Castle meeting around 300 members and workers from the Territorial Army, during a reception to mark the group's centenary.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, she spoke with soldiers, their families and employees.

She met soldiers who had served in operations in Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 100 soldiers have just arrived for a six month tour of duty.

The Queen's visit will end with a Maundy Service at St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.

Anglican Archbishop of Armagh Alan Harper and other religious leaders are also expected to be present.