President Mary McAleese met Queen Elizabeth in Belfast today for the first such meeting on Irish soil.
The two met in Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, intensifying speculation of an unprecedented state visit to the Republic by the queen.
As the British Royal Standard flew above the castle where the queen and Duke of Edinburgh stayed overnight before carrying out a series of engagements, Mrs McAleese arrived for what was scheduled to be a 20-minute meeting.
The President's husband, Martin, and Prince Philip were also at today's meeting.
Although both Prince Philip and the Prince of Wales have made visits to the Republic, diplomats have been waiting for a time when the security and political situation is appropriate for an historic state trip by the queen.
No British monarch has visited Dublin since George V went to the capital in 1911.
Later today, Mrs McAleese will attend, as guest of honour, the Irish première of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeat the Odyssey Centre in Belfast
Mrs McAleese met the queen on November 11th, 1998, at the unveiling of the peace tower, in Messines, Belgium; on December 2nd, 1999, at a lunch hosted by the British monarch at Buckingham Palace, London; and on June 9th last at a Co-operation Ireland 25th anniversary dinner in London.