THE significance of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s visit to Enniskillen, and what it meant for reconciliation in Northern Ireland, still stand out, almost a decade on.

A stand-out moment from their visit – which saw The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh crossing the road from St. Macartin’s Cathedral to St. Michael’s Church – was a simple gesture, but one that cannot be understated in importance.

It was the first time Queen Elizabeth had been inside a Roman Catholic Church on the island of Ireland, and as well as the wider significance of what it meant, it displayed the close relationship between the two churches and, indeed, the Very Reverend Canon Kenneth Hall, and Monsignor O’Reilly.

In a joint statement from both clergymen following the passing of Prince Philip at the age of 99, they recalled the day in June, 2012.

“With the announcement of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, we wish to join our voices with the many others who have sympathised with Queen Elizabeth and their family.

“We do so while recalling the visit of The Queen and Prince Philip to Enniskillen on June 26, 2012.

“Those who were present on that day to see The Queen and Prince Philip cross the street from St. Macartin’s Cathedral to enter St. Michael’s Church will remember the joy of that occasion, and its witness to our one community, rooted in our common Christian heritage.

“We remember Prince Philip’s lively interest in Enniskillen and his faithful support for The Queen, plainly visible on that day.”

Former Impartial Reporter editor Denzil McDaniel was also in St. Michael’s that day and he remembers the light-hearted nature of the Duke on such a memorable occasion.

“It was actually typical of him – he was quite relaxed and quite funny,” recalls Denzil.

“I remember there was a group beside us, some medical people, and when they were introduced to the Duke, he sort of quipped: ‘Who is looking after all the patients?’ and everybody had a good laugh about it.

“He just seemed to have that knack of putting people at their ease.”

The visit to Enniskillen came a year after the Royal Visit to Dublin, and Denzil believes both occasions were a “massive step for reconciliation” and something the Duke of Edinburgh would have been in favour of. “It was very significant, the whole thing, and they were very much a team, and he was very much supportive of it.

“I think he was quite supportive of her doing that [making a formal visit to the Republic]. It was a massive step for reconciliation that she went to Dublin, and the Garden of Remembrance, and when she came here, the significance of the walk [across the road to St. Michael’s],” added Denzil.

Looking back at the day, the Very Reverend Hall also recalls the Duke of Edinburgh as a man who brightened up the special occasion.

“Prince Philip brought a lot of humour to the day. It would have been a very serious business, and I think The Queen is quite a serious character, but certainly he added a lot of humour.

“He wasn’t afraid to crack a joke and bring things down to normality. He wasn’t in a rush anywhere.”

Dean Hall had the pleasure of escorting the Duke around St. Michael’s, which proved to be a slow process, as the Duke talked with the people inside the church.

“The Queen was going the opposite way with Monsignor O’Reilly, and I had to keep moving him on because he was talking too long!

“Prince Philip certainly wouldn’t miss out a conversation and he was a very humourous character. He liked the light-hearted moments and could cheer people up.”

For more on the legacy of the late Prince Philip’s connections to Fermanagh and Northern Ireland, see overleaf.