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The Queen upped the fashion ante in Dublin today, donning two winning outfits on day one of her state visit to Ireland.

BY Belinda White | 17 May 2011

Queen Elizabeth II in the two differing outfits that she chose for day one of her trip to Ireland Photo: PA/ GETTY

Irish President Mary McAleese also performed two outfit changes during the time in which she hosted Queen Elizabeth II Photo: PA/ GETTY

Queen Elizabeth II and Irish President Mary McAleese Photo: GETTY

Irish President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II Photo: PA

Maybe it's all the fashion buzz surrounding the young royals at the 'wedding of the century', or perhaps, the heightened media spotlight on this acutely politically fraught state visit - the first visit from a British monarch in 100 years and the first since it became a republic - but on day one of her four-day trip to Ireland, the Queen came over a bit Gaga - Lady Gaga that is.

In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's colourful style

Arriving in Dublin, Her Majesty wisely plumped for a diplomatic shade of vivid emerald green in her signature colour-blocking style, before playing quick-change artist to lay a wreath at Dublin Memorial Garden wearing a metallic pearl bouclé ensemble, trimmed with soft olive green flowers.

Not normally a woman to see life as a series of fashion opportunities - behaviour usually reserved for Hollywood starlets and crazy Gaga who on this week's visit to London seemed to be decked out in yet another ludicrous get-up every time you blinked - the Queen's sartorial masterstroke has transformed what was looking - to fashion observers - to be a dry week of ceremonial handshaking, into a potential stylistic 'happening'.

She Wears It Well: Queen Elizabeth II

And Her Majesty's Mariah Carey-worthy diva-esque behaviour seemed to be contagious, with Ireland's President Mary McAleese ditching the Barbie pink ensemble she chose to greet her, for a more conservative black dress and jacket combination with contrasting white piping for their second engagement.

Perhaps the two women are going head-to-head in some kind of state-style slap-down, à la Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Princess Letizia of Spain, or maybe beneath all that power, they are just like all women and love any excuse to get dressed up.

Watch this space. With three more packed days of photo-opportunities ahead, including a state dinner at Dublin Castle, the home team had better up their game if they want to keep pace with our fashion Queen.