This is the first state visit by an Irish head of state to Britain.<br/> <br />It's a sign of how much relations between Dublin and its former colonial master are improving.<br/> <br />Britain's Queen Elizabeth hosted a banquet for Irish President Michael Higgins<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(English) BRITAIN'S QUEEN ELIZABETH SAYING:<br/> <br />"We, the Irish and the British, are becoming good and dependable neighbours and better friends, finally shedding our inhibitions about seeing the best in each other."<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(English) IRISH PRESIDENT MICHAEL HIGGINS SAYING:<br/> <br />"I can assure you that this first state visit by a president of Ireland to the United Kingdom is a very visible sign of the warmth and maturity of the relationship between our two countries."<br/> <br />Another mark of just how far things have changed was the participation of former Irish Republican Army guerrilla chief Martin McGuinness in a toast to the Queen.<br/> <br />The conflict over British-ruled Northern Ireland claimed more than 3, 600
