ONLY the clicking sound of numerous mobile phones being turned off by reporters not wanting to ruin the historic moment, disturbed the silence.
The President, Mrs Robinson, waited patiently for the Irish national anthem to be played for the first time at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
As the First Battalion of Irish Guards, who had specifically requested to form the Guard of Honour for President Robinson, struck the first note, she appeared to be moved by the poignancy of the occasion.
Despite the intense heat, the 100 guardsmen, in full uniform and bearskins, stood to attention in the palace's Quadrangle, their stars of St Patrick glinting in the sunlight as the band played the full version of the national anthem.
Even before President Robinson, who was accompanied by her husband, Nicholas, had arrived for her "informal" lunch with Queen Elizabeth, the theme of "all things Irish" was clearly prevalent at the palace.
The Irish Guards band had deliberately chosen to play a medley of Irish songs intending to refer to all the counties, ranging from The Siege of Ennis, Galway Races, to Carrickfergus and Star of the County Down.
However, someone had forgotten the President's birthplace, for there was not one mention of Mayo.
After greeting Queen Elizabeth and her son, Prince Edward, the President, wearing a vivid emerald green three quarter length silk coat and dress, was escorted to the Quadrangl for the national anthem. As she pulled on her navy gloves, in preparation for the task ahead, the mobile phones were switched off.
While Queen Elizabeth, wearing a pink flowery silk jacket and dress and clutching a white hand bag, listened intently from the Grand Entrance, the anthem began. The captain of the guard then announced in Irish to President Robinson that his officers were ready to be inspected by her.
Accompanied by Prince Edward, who had a green handkerchief in his suit pocket in honour of the occasion, the President inspected the guardsmen as the band played Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff.
"If was lovely," the President told Queen Elizabeth, as she rejoined her and Mr Robinson on the red carpeted steps of the Grand Entrance.
Chatting amiably, the queen led the small party inside the palace for pre lunch drinks in the 18th Century Room as the Irish Guards marched out of the palace, back to the barracks to the tune of Whiskey in the Jar.
The other guests, including the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, the Irish ambassador, Mr Edward Barrington, and the British ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Veronica Sutherland, were escorted to lunch through a side door, thereby missing the golden splendour of the palace's Grand Hall, while other members of the President's staff were required to eat their meals "downstairs" in the room next door.
Lunch was served in the 1844 Room, which commemorates the first state visit in that year by Tsar Nicholas I and is favoured by Queen Elizabeth for her private parties as opposed to the grandeur of the palace's dining hall.
Over a "light" three course meal of lobster salad, chicken with a selection of vegetables (reflecting the colours of Ireland) and nectarine melba, Queen Elizabeth, next to the President and the Tanaiste, led the conversation and was clearly well briefed on "all things Irish".
Outside the palace gates, royal watchers and tourists gathered attempting to catch a glimpse of the events through the railings and expressed their delight at the historic occasion. "I like the look of Mary, but she has fierce modern ideas," commented Mr Patrick Hassett, from Tipperary.