RTE star Ryan Tubridy has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who passed away aged 96 on Thursday.
Tubs reflected on meeting Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 during her official visit to Ireland, which he described as a "remarkable" visit. He told listeners: "I met her very briefly in the Guinness Storehouse when I was showing her Dublin through the windows, we went on a tour around.
"She was very nice, I was told all sorts of things about how to address her and how not to address her, where to look and how to shake her hand.
On his RTE morning show today, the broadcaster commented how Netflix show The Crown has halted production in the light of the Queen's death. Tubs said that a lot of people might have talked about The Crown last night while eating their dinners, which he said "really brought her story to a new audience in some respects."
Read more: Mary Byrne pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth and says 'she reminded me of my mother'
Tubs explained that in a photo he shared on Instagram with the Queen she was giving him the "most charming" smile. The broadcaster also recalled asking the Queen about her visit to Trinity College the day before the visit to Guinness Storehouse.
He said: "When I asked her at one point 'did you enjoy your trip to Trinity?, which I believe I wasn't allowed to ask but I couldn't help myself. She said one word and that was it, she said 'splendid' in the most lovely, grandmotherly way and then she was on her way."
In 2014, Tubridy recalled how they were doing a show in Belfast when the Queen was also in the country for a visit. He said: "I managed to get onto the phone to the late Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, who was then Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland at the time. He was there and he very kindly took our call while he was en route in the car to meet the Queen in Crumlin Road Prsion that morning."
Tubridy had asked McGuinness about if it is hard to separate the Queen from being the head of state. McGuinness said: "I think we're always conscious she is the head of state, but I think we're also conscious that she is a very pleasant woman."
McGuinness had also described the Queen as a "huge supporter" of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. The tricolour over government Buildings in Dublin is also flying at half mast today, as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
The Taoiseach has paid tribute to the monarch, saying she'll be remembered for her sense of duty and for taking symbolic steps to mend relations between Ireland and the UK. Micheal Martin said Queen Elizabeth's visit to Ireland in 2011 was a turning point in Anglo-Irish relations;
He said: "By making that visit and by making the speeches that were made, visiting the Garden of Remembrance and the different locations, cemented the peace and signalled to the British and Irish people that we were entering a different phase, a more mature phase in the relationship."
A state of mourning has officially begun across the United Kingdom, following the Queen's death.
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