Key lunches with the Queen and corgis

Reuters

HOW DO YOU DO? Queen Elizabeth speaks with Prime Minister John Key in the White Room at Windsor Castle.

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Prime Minister John Key has received a warm welcome at Windsor Castle - when one of the Royal Corgis licked his hand.

Key had an audience with Queen Elizabeth in London, after which they shared a glass of champagne and chatted over a lunch of hollandaise eggs, beef, a "delicious" panna cotta dessert and some cheese.

"It was quite a fulsome lunch," Key said.

"I'm fairly full. It was delicious."

The lunch was so good, it attracted the attention of one of the Queen's famous corgis.

"One of them licked my hand during lunch actually, but he wasn't going to have any of the beef. He wasn't having a bar of that," Key said.

After the 45 minute talk, the Queen took Key for a glass of champagne appetiser before lunch.

"We might as well celebrate the event."

Royal protocol means Key can't divulge much detail of their conversation.

"She was in great heart and cares very deeply about New Zealand."

The Queen was very interested in the Christchurch rebuild and wanted to know what she could do to help, he said.

"She has great passion and care for New Zealand and she wanted me to pass on her very best wishes to the people of Christchurch and the Pike River families."

In a hectic week for the Royals, it is significant the Queen granted Key almost two hours of her time. He will also see Prince Charles on Thursday, on the eve of Prince William's wedding.

"It's fairly busy week and I don't think she is having a private audience with anyone else this week, which reflects how much she's got on her plate. But she cares passionately about New Zealand."

Key did talk with her about the wedding preparations, but couldn't reveal details.

Prince Edward joined the Queen, Key and wife Bronagh for the lunch.

It was good to catch up, we had a very nice chat. He was in good form," Key said.

"It was a really lovely lunch, very pleasant, good company."

Key presented her with some New Zealand tea.

"She was very pleased with that. She said she was going to try it. She gave me a very lovely picture of her, representing her as the Queen of New Zealand."

Key said Windsor Palace is "remarkable."

"It was quite intimate, some of the rooms are quite small. The dining room we actually ate in was not a traditionally large room. It was a very beautiful room."

- © Fairfax NZ News