All Blacks meet the Queen

All Blacks coach Graham Henry shakes hands with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Ross Land / Getty Images

LONDON - Tana Umaga led his awestruck All Blacks into a very different arena today as they drank orange juice and nibbled on canapes with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Suited up in their ties and blazers, the 50-strong All Blacks tour party had a half-hour audience with the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and their grandson Prince William.

It was Umaga's third meeting with Her Majesty as he guided her through the Marble Hall and around the Bow Room with its marble pillars and gilt-lined ceilings, introducing her to the players.

"She's amazing, I'm still just in awe walking around with her," All Blacks captain Umaga said afterwards.

He said the Queen was surprised at how many All Blacks there were to meet -- 35 in all -- and said she was impressed by their performance against Wales in Cardiff which she had watched on television.

"She took a keen interest in the guys and was always able to find something to talk with them about," Umaga said.

She told Byron Kelleher how much she enjoyed visiting New Zealand and was looking forward to returning, to which the halfback replied: "There's always a cup of tea for you at my house".

Prince William also reacquainted himself with the players after meeting them in New Zealand during the Lions tour in July.

Lock Ali Williams cut straight to the chase, asking Prince William how things were going with his girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

"He said it was going pretty well. He seems very content, " Williams said with a grin, before the talk turned to rugby.

"He tried to tell us England were going to win on Saturday but it just fell on deaf ears."

After arriving at the palace, the team stood around in small groups taking pictures in the Marble Hall, and were offered canapes of thai beef salad, smoked turkey and cranberry and goat's cheese and aubergine -- but they politely turned down the offer of New Zealand white and Australian red wines.

Umaga said the only minor disappointment was the absence of the Queen's corgis, who raced around the room during their last visit in 2002.

"They asked her where the dogs were and she said she didn't bring them this time," Umaga said.

Umaga and New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Hunt thanked the Queen, with Umaga presenting her with a bouquet from the team.

- NZPA