Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster criticises 'too intense' coverage of King Charles meeting Sinn Féin during royal visit

Former DUP leader Arlene Foster has criticised coverage of Sinn Féin members meeting King Charles this week. Picture by Colm Lenaghan.
Former DUP leader Arlene Foster has criticised coverage of Sinn Féin members meeting King Charles this week. Picture by Colm Lenaghan. Former DUP leader Arlene Foster has criticised coverage of Sinn Féin members meeting King Charles this week. Picture by Colm Lenaghan.

FORMER DUP leader Arlene Foster has accused the media of focusing "far too much" on King Charles meeting Sinn Féin members during his visit to the north this week.

Ms Foster said coverage showing Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill and Stormont Assembly speaker Alex Maskey speaking warmly with the new British monarch was "intense" and said the relationship between members of the republican party and the royal family was "not really big news".

The former Stormont first minister wrote in the Express newspaper, following scenes showing Ms O'Neill and Mr Maskey at Hillsborough Castle chatting amiably with the King after offering commiserations over the death of Queen Elizabeth. The footage also showed King Charles discussing how Sinn Féin were now 'the largest party' following May's Stormont election.

Ms Foster wrote: "The coverage got so intense about Sinn Féin on some mainstream broadcasts that you would be forgiven for thinking the visit was about them and not marking the death of our sovereign and the first visit of her successor!"

Among those criticising Ms Foster's comments was SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, who tweeted: "The monarchy is a symbolic institution. If you support it, you can't complain when others engage with that symbolic power in ways you don't find comfortable."