Sinn Féin's decision to attend the coronation of King Charles represents another shift in stance for the Irish republican party.
While paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II following her death was a huge step last October, even then there were some events Sinn Féin stayed away from.
The party did not attend the accession proclamation at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down - an act to formally establish Charles as the new British monarch.
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But now Sinn Féin will be represented at an infinitely more lavish ceremony celebrating the new reign of Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.
The announcement appeared carefully choreographed, with Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill and Stormont Speaker Alex Maskey's decisions to attend emerging within minutes of each other.
The pair taking up their pews next Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London will stretch the party's grassroots once more.
For some staunch republicans it will be a step too far. For them, sending condolences on the death of a 96-year-old woman is far removed from attending the crowning of a man born into privilege.
Socialist political rivals People Before Profit were scathing of Sinn Féin's decision to attend the coronation, describing it as "utterly shameful".
West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll said: "The monarchy represents everything that is wrong with our society. Gross wealth inequality, inherited privilege and empire are nothing to celebrate."
Turning on their head Ms O'Neill's words about reconciliation, MLA Gerry Carroll said: "Working-class communities have no need for reconciliation with the unjust and undemocratic institution of monarchy. We look forward to its demise."
His party will be making the most of pointing out their polar opposite response, including staging a "make monarchy history" event at a Falls Road venue on the eve of the coronation.
In spite of the criticism, it was really a no-brainer for Sinn Féin to attend the royal occasion.
Polling suggests voters responded well to Sinn Féin's respectful approach to the Queen's death, consolidating its position as Northern Ireland's most popular party.
And Ms O'Neill's personal approval ratings also increased, with the Sinn Féin deputy leader becoming the most popular Stormont leader last November for the first time in LucidTalk's surveys.
It is a remarkable turnaround considering that just a couple of years earlier Ms O'Neill was the worst rated in the wake of the Bobby Storey funeral controversy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With local government elections less than three weeks away, Sinn Féin's gesture will play well with middle-ground voters - helping the party to secure support and transfers down the ballot.
The party is seeking to position itself for government not just in Northern Ireland, but in the Irish Republic.
By attending the coronation, it wants to show voters in the south it has the qualities of statecraft needed for public office.
The council election being in sight may make unionists sceptical. The DUP has pointed to how Sinn Féin councillors in Ms O'Neill's constituency of Mid Ulster rejected proposals for the council to hold local events marking the coronation.
However, Ms O'Neill has repeatedly pledged to be a "First Minister for all". Had she declined an invitation to the coronation, it would have been seized upon by unionists.
With Sinn Féin taking up their seats at Westminster Abbey, will its MPs taking up their seats in the House of Commons be next?
Some nationalist commentators have dismissed the idea of the party ever dropping its abstentionist policy, particularly due to the oath of allegiance sitting MPs must take to the King.
But the more gestures of outreach Sinn Féin makes, the finer the line it will have to tread to keep everyone on side.
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