Boris Johnson led celebrations of Northern Ireland’s centenary today after the Queen was forced to stay at home through ill health.
The Prime Minister was joined by Irish foreign minister Simony Coveney and unionist leaders at a church service in Armagh this morning.
But as well as the Queen’s absence there was also no appearance by Sinn Fein after the hardline nationalists boycotted the event.
There was also no place for Irish president Michael D Higgins, who refused to attend what he said was not a politically neutral commemoration.
It is 100 years since Northern Ireland was created under a treaty which saw it remain part of the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland was granted home rule and became the Irish Free State – later the Republic of Ireland.
Bump the bishop: The Prime Minister with clergy ahead of the service in Armagh this morning.
Sinn Fein (deputy first minister deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, left) boycotted the event and Irish president Michael D Higgins (right) refused to attend what he said was not a politically neutral commemoration.
The Queen cancelled her two-day trip to Northern Ireland after she ‘reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days’ yesterday
Mr Johnson elbow bumps student Billy Wilson from the City of Armagh High School during the service
The Queen is still expected to meet world leaders at the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow despite cancelling her trip to Northern Ireland after she last night ‘reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days’.
The 95-year-old monarch – who has been seen using a walking stick at engagements over the past week – is said to be in good spirits but disappointed not to be able to carry out the two-day trip.
The Queen has had a busy few days and hosted a major global investment summit at Windsor Castle yesterday evening. She also had engagements last week at the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff and Westminster Abbey in London.
Also at today’s service at St Patrick’s Cathedral were Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, First Minister Paul Givan, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP leader Doug Beattie, moderate nationalist SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Alliance leader Naomi Long.
The Queen was represented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Co Armagh Lord Caledon.
About 150 people attended the service, including a number of schoolchildren.
Boris Johnson at the service to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh
The sermon was delivered by the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Dr Sahr Yambasu. Originally from Sierra Leone, he is the first African-born leader of one of Ireland’s main churches.
The service became the centre of a row last month after the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, declined an invitation to attend because he believed it was not politically neutral.
The Irish government was represented by Mr Coveney and chief whip, Jack Chambers.
The Service of Reflection and Hope in Armagh began with the ringing of the cathedral bell before the Dean of Armagh, Rev Shane Forster, sent his good wishes to the Queen.
Welcoming the congregation to the service, he said: ‘Our past has shaped us and scarred us, it has divided us. And, yet, it has also on occasion brought us together.
‘As we lament our failures, sorrows and pain, and recognise our wounded yet living history, may we with a united voice commit ourselves to work together for the common good, in mutual respect and with shared hope for a light-filled, prosperous and peaceful future.’
The leaders of Ireland’s main churches delivered their personal reflections on the creation of Northern Ireland at the centenary service in Armagh.
Catholic Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin said: ‘I reflect as a church leader on the last 100 years.
‘I have to face the difficult truth that perhaps we in the churches could have done more to deepen our understanding of each other and to bring healing and peace to our divided and wounded communities.’
David Bruce, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said: ‘I grieve the times when fear has held us back from building relationships with those with whom we differ.
‘If we are to build a better future, then we must recognise our own woundedness and our responsibility to care for the wounds of one another.’
The Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell, said: ‘We obsessed about some things, especially borders. One way or another, we’re obsessing about them again, and being distracted from really thinking about what a good society would look like.
The Irish government was represented by Simon Coveney (pictured) and chief whip, Jack Chambers
‘But I am hopeful. Hopeful in a new generation who know that the big problems we’ve landed them with, especially climate change and economic inequality, can only be tackled together.
‘I think there are already signs that the next generation will see the things that we obsessed about as secondary and place their priorities elsewhere.’
Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his Government’s stance ‘doesn’t in any way undermine the position of the president’.
He said the president, as the head of state, ‘comes at these issues from a different perspective’.
The prayer service at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral has been organised by the four main churches to mark the formation of Northern Ireland and the partition of Ireland in 1921.
Church leaders expressed their sadness after learning the Queen would not be attending.
‘We are very sorry to learn that it will not be possible for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to be present for the Service of Reflection and Hope in Armagh tomorrow,’ they said in a statement.