"It’s quite big, you could play a good football match here." Those were the words of long-time serving Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger as he led the Arsenal team to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. They were there at the invitation of Her Majesty The Queen and were treated to an experience no other club football team has ever been privileged to. But what was it all about? Why were they there? 

Arsenal had just moved from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in the previous year 2006. That had ended their 93-year stay at their iconic North London home. The short move from Highbury to Emirates was costly; they wanted a special grand opening to mark the occasion. What was more special than having Her Majesty the Queen cut the ribbon to officially declare the Emirates open? It was all agreed between Arsenal Football Club and Her Majesty but unfortunately, a back injury forced the Queen to cancel her appearance on the morning of the opening with Prince Philip doing the honors instead. It was still a special occasion for Arsenal yes, but the event was tinged with disappointment, especially as the plaque that Prince Phillip unveiled had already been engraved with the wording 'officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen.' 

To make up for her late cancelation, the Queen then invited Arsenal's first team squad and members of the club hierarchy to Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea in February 2007. Thierry Henry was Arsenal captain at the time, so he led what was a relatively young squad to Buckingham Palace. Wenger was there of course, as were Arsenal’s chairman at the time, Peter Hill-Wood, and club director Ken Friar. After arriving by coach, the Arsenal squad was greeted by the Buckingham Palace doormen and the players made their way inside. The club was then met by royal collections expert Desmond Shawe-Taylor, who took them around the Palace for a private tour of the state apartments. Shawe-Taylor admitted he was ‘nervous’ to be coming face to face with some of the Arsenal squad. "I’m not usually doing it for superstars," he said. "I’m trying to remember my words when Thierry Henry is facing me. I feel like a defender." After the guided tour, the squad gathered in one of the main rooms for their afternoon tea and waited for the Queen. 

After finishing the food, the Arsenal squad gathered together and waited for Her Majesty. The Queen, accompanied by her corgis, arrived and was met by Arsene Wenger, Peter Hill-Wood, and Ken Friar. Wenger then introduced Henry, who led the Queen over to the rest of the squad and introduced the players one by one. "You have a very international side," she said, after meeting Julio Baptista, Gilberto Silva, Denilson, Lehmann, and Emmanuel Eboue. "It went really nicely," Henry said afterward. "I have no words to describe the Queen's experience." To mark the occasion and to say thank you to the Queen, Arsenal presented her with a gift before they left. Indeed, the Queen looked extremely pleased with the item - a silver cannon. "It’s not to incite you to make war," Wenger joked as it was handed over. The Palace staff, who had all gathered to get a glimpse of the Arsenal squad, then gave the team a round of applause as they made their way back to the coach.