The menu for this evening’s state banquet at Windsor Castle has just been confirmed to the media.

Here’s what’s on offer:

Starter

Fillet of Isle of Gigha Halibat with young leeks and fine herb sauce.

Main

Tournedos of Windsor estate beef with wild mushrooms and watercress purée.

Veg

Purple sprouting brocolli with hollandaise sauce, baked onions stuffed with parmesan and bulgar wheat.

Dessert

Vanilla ice cream bombe with a Balmoral redcurrant centre

Wines

Ridgeview Cuvée merrier geoscience 2009
Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres 2005 Chanson Pere et fils
Chateau Leovolle-Barton 1990 2eme Cru Classe St Julien
Louis Roederer Carte Blanche NV
Quinta do Nov Vintage port 1996

The Queen and Prince Philip are hosting President Higgins and his wife, Sabina, for this evening’s dinner, as the first ever British state visit by an Irish head-of-state continues.

Also attending this evening are Prime Minister David Cameron, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

Former President Mary McAleese — who hosted the Queen in Dublin three years ago — is on this evening’s guestlist too as are a number of Irish celebrities, including: Brian O’Driscoll, Amy Huberman, Daniel Day Lewis, Dame Judi Dench, Terry Wogan, Philip Treacy and Louise Kennedy.

Read: ‘A closeness and warmth that once seemed unachieveble’: Higgins’ address to Westminster 

Related: Here’s everything that’s happened so far on Michael D’s historic State visit to the UK