The Duke of Edinburgh visited Dublin yesterday, paying courtesy calls on the President, Mrs McAleese, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
During his stay, which lasted less than three hours, a relaxed and smiling Prince Philip referred to "these rather artificial divisions between North and South".
The duke's trip was at the invitation of Gaisce, the President's award for young people, sister scheme of the Duke of Edinburgh Award in the North.
It was therefore regarded in protocol terms as a working visit.
But such a trip at this time by one of the royal family's most senior members has provoked speculation that a visit by Queen Elizabeth might be expected shortly.
The reason for yesterday's visit was to announce details of Millennium Gold Encounter, a global event of the International Award Association.
It will take place here in autumn 1999 and will be hosted jointly by Gaisce and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
But yesterday the focus was on the duke, who arrived at Aras an Uachtarain by helicopter at 10.15 a.m. for a courtesy call on the President.
Mrs McAleese and Prince Philip posed for photographs and, after a private meeting, were driven amid tight security to Dublin Castle.
In St Patrick's Hall, a fanfare of bugles greeted the entrance of the duke and the President.
During his short speech, the duke made one reference to the relationship between North and South.
"I welcome this particular initiative enormously because I think that it would be ridiculous to pretend that there haven't been problems between North and South," he said.
"And I think any initiative which can somehow overcome these rather artificial divisions can only be good," he said.
If young people could begin to understand each other it could only be good for the communities concerned, he said.
He knew the initiative would be an outstanding success.
Mrs McAleese, patron of Gaisce, extended a cead mile failte to the Duke of Edinburgh.
"I think the venue for this public welcome for His Royal Highness is not insignificant given Dublin Castle's long association with Britain as its main administrative centre for several hundred years, an association which has been very carefully recorded and reflected in the art and artefacts that are in this important building today," she said.
The successful partnership which had brought the Millennium Encounter event to Ireland was an extension of the co-operation and interaction that already existed between North and South.
The event would bring together the best of young achievers from all around the world in a unique showcase for what was best in young people, she added.
The President and the duke were each presented with a Waterford crystal globe, representing the award worldwide, by Ms Ruth Lowry, gold award holder of the Duke of Edinburgh Award from Bangor, Co Down, and Mr Stephen Peers, a Gaisce gold award holder, from Baldoyle, Dublin.
At 11.50 a.m. the duke then left ahead of schedule for Government Buildings.
He was accompanied throughout the trip by the British ambassador, Dame Veronica Sutherland, and other British dignitaries including his private secretary, Mr Myles Hunt Davis, and Mr Paul Arengo Jones, secretary-general of the International Awards Association.
At Government Buildings, Mr Ahern greeted the duke. Then he, the duke and the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, had a private half-hour meeting, during which it is thought they discussed Gaisce and the Taoiseach's recent Lothian address in Edinburgh.
When they emerged, the Union flag was flying opposite the Tricolour.
Prince Philip left at 12.30 for his visit to the North.