Queen resists Guinness temptation

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have resisted the temptation to sample Ireland's most famous export - a pint of Guinness.

Despite the best efforts of master brewer Fergal Murray, who poured the perfect pint, the royal couple declined an offer to see if the taste is to their liking.

The royal couple got a rundown on the secret of the stout during a visit to the renowned St James's Gate in the heart of working-class Dublin - the second day of their historic trip to the Irish Republic.

The Duke joked as the pint was delicately poured: "Is it made with Liffey water?"

He was referring to the river which runs through the Irish capital.

The Queen was also given a "windows tour" of Dublin by host Ryan Tubridy from the sixth floor of the Gravity Bar.

Later, the Queen met Ireland's Taoiseach Enda Kenny and senior Cabinet members at Government Buildings in Dublin.

The Queen was shown inside the Taoiseach's office, where there is a portrait of Michael Collins - the signatory to the 1921 Anglo-Irish treaty for the partition of Ireland.

The Union flag flew alongside the Irish tricolour on top of Government Buildings - built in the final years of British rule in Ireland - as the historic meeting took place.

The royal couple received a round of applause on two occasions from Irish government staff looking on.

During the engagement with the Taoiseach, the royal couple were also greeted by deputy prime minister Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and his wife Carol Hanney.

They paused to admire a stained glass window by Dublin painter and stained glass artist Evie Hone, which was exhibited as part of the Irish pavilion at the 1939 World Trade Fair in New York.

It is entitled My Four Green Fields and represents the four provinces of Ireland, the Three Crowns of Munster, the Red Hand of Ulster, the Harp of Leinster and the half spread eagle and the sword for Connaught.

The royal couple sat by the fireside in the Taoiseach's office for a private talk with the Taoiseach and Mrs Kenny before being invited to sign the visitor's book.

The Queen and Duke were then introduced to Sean Barrett, Ceann Comhairle (Dail speaker), in the Taoiseach's meeting room before moving on to meet government ministers and the Attorney General Maire Whelan.

The royal couple were then shown two excerpts from the Waterford Charter roll, with Waterford museum director Eamonn McEneaney detailing the document.

Dating from 1372 and measuring some four metres in length, the parchment roll contains portraits of five medieval kings of England - Henry II, John, Henry III, Edward I and two contemporary portraits of King Edward III.

During the tour, Philip was shown one of the company's most important artefacts, its famous 9,000-year lease that founder Arthur Guinness signed for an old, disused and dilapidated brewery at St James's Gate.

The document provoked a frank response from the Duke, who asked Guinness's curator: "What kind of mug signs that?"