The Queen has concluded her highly successful first official visit to Ireland with an impromptu walkabout in Cork, greeting hundreds of cheering children and shopworkers.
Earlier, during a visit to the medieval castle and cathedral at the Rock of Cashel, one of the country's most historic sites, she even found a Sinn Féin representative willing to meet her and shake her hand: the mayor, Michael Browne.
He breached party conventions that members should not meet the monarch and earned criticism for doing so. He claimed it was his civic duty to do it. "I just shook hands with her … I just said 'Welcome to Cashel your majesty and I hope you enjoy your stay'. No more, no less."
The party has been much criticised for refusing to meet the Queen and ridiculed for its stance, with suggestions that it would never be satisfied, whatever happened. Her popularity appears to have disconcerted it.
Muiris O Súilleabháin, Sinn Féin's South Tipperary spokesman, said: "Party members in Tipperary were surprised by Michael Browne's action, especially as he recently signed a statement against the English queen's visit to the Rock of Cashel.
"The visit of the English queen to Ireland is premature and we are opposed to it. Elected members should not attend any of the events related to it."
Despite that, the Queen met plenty of Irish people who were prepared to cheer her. In Cork several thousand turned out, drowning a protest by hundreds of opponents, who were kept out of earshot across the river that divides the town.
She and the Duke of Edinburgh toured the English market, a historic covered area of food shops, joking with the shopkeepers.
Fishmonger Pat O'Connell said: "She was absolutely superb. She is easy to talk to, and has got a great sense of humour.
"She got a huge welcome here. I am very proud to be a market trader, and very proud to be a Cork man."
Outside the market, the Queen unexpectedly plunged towards the waiting crowd opposite, smiling and chatting to individuals.
Rosemary Williams of Clonakilty said: "It says a lot for Cork that the threat was perceived to be less here. She is purely wonderful."
Jim Daly, principal of St Oliver's School in Cork, who brought dozens of children to see the royal visitor, said: "The Queen came and said hello to the children and we were absolutely thrilled.
"It's a day they will remember all the days of their lives, and will tell their children and grandchildren about.
"From the very moment the Queen stepped out of the plane on Tuesday wearing the colours of our country, and going to the Garden of Remembrance, she disarmed us completely.
"All of us, on both sides of the divide, it has helped us reappraise our history and our culture. Her visit will go a long, long way to healing the wounds of past years."
Royal officials and Irish ministers have been thrilled at the outcome of the visit. Protests have been very muted and there has been much favourable comment about the 85-year-old's feistiness and the obvious sincerity of her acknowledgement of past wrongs and the respects she paid at the country's remembrance garden.
Its success follows close behind that of the royal wedding three weeks ago and just in advance of Barack Obama's arrival at Buckingham Palace for a state visit on Tuesday.