Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, has publicly recalled a moment in 1998 when the late Queen Elizabeth II expressed strong personal dislike for Ian Paisley and his political stance. The recollection, given during an interview with The Ireland Podcast, revisits tensions that accompanied the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and highlights the degree to which the peace process divided opinion in the British Isles.
Context of a delicate moment
The meeting described by Ms McAleese took place in Belgium in 1998, only months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement — the landmark accord intended to bring an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland. According to her account, Paisley, the founder of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), had refused to endorse the agreement and openly criticised the monarch for what he saw as support for the settlement.
Ms McAleese told the podcast she had been travelling with the Queen and the then Queen Paola of Belgium when conversation turned to Paisley’s remarks. The DUP leader’s critique, as reported by Ms McAleese, included the phrase that the Queen had become the “parrot” of those in authority — a comment directed at the perception that the monarch carried out the will of government ministers.
“She abhorred him and his politics,”
That, Ms McAleese said, was the monarch’s response when asked about Ian Paisley, a reaction Ms McAleese characterised as mutual disdain.
What was said
- Ms McAleese recounted the Queen’s remark in response to a question from Queen Paola of Belgium about who Ian Paisley was.
- She recalled the Queen telling Queen Paola: “Oh, lucky you,” after the Belgian monarch said she did not know Paisley.
- Ms McAleese emphasised that the Queen “had no time for him whatsoever” and that the feeling was reciprocal, noting that Paisley had been “quite scathing” about the monarch.
The exchange offers a rare insight into private royal impressions of a polarising political figure at a sensitive stage of the peace process. It also illustrates how strongly held views played out across different arenas — formal negotiations, public statements and private conversations among heads of state.
Local and wider significance
For readers in Paisley, the town and the politician share a surname but are otherwise distinct: Ian Paisley’s political career was rooted in Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, the recollection resonates for Scottish audiences because it touches on the broader constitutional and communal issues that shape politics across these islands. The Good Friday Agreement had implications not only for Northern Ireland but also for relationships between the UK and the Republic of Ireland — matters of ongoing interest in Scotland, where debates about constitutional arrangements and cross-border relations remain live.
The episode underlines how the monarchy, while constitutionally neutral, can be drawn into the symbolic dimensions of political change. It also serves as a reminder that the personal attitudes of public figures occasionally emerge and add colour — and sometimes controversy — to the historical record.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| When | 1998, months after the Good Friday Agreement |
| Who recounted | Mary McAleese, former president of Ireland |
| Principal figures | Queen Elizabeth II, Ian Paisley, Queen Paola of Belgium |
The account was reported as part of a wider interview and has been made public through media outlets carrying Ms McAleese’s remarks. It adds to the archival record of reactions to the peace process and the personalities involved. For citizens in Paisley and across Scotland, the story is a reminder of how events and voices from neighbouring parts of the UK and Ireland continue to inform understanding of recent political history.
