The Queen posed for a team photo with England's Rugby World Cup heroes yesterday as the historic victory parade descended on Buckingham Palace.

The sportsmen dwarfed the 5ft 4in monarch as they lined up in the Blue Drawing Room.

At 6ft 7in, captain Martin Johnson towered above the Queen as he sat to her right with the Webb Ellis Trophy perched on his knee.

Several corgies and dorgis - a cross between a dachshund and a corgi - padded around in front of the players' feet, with one inquisitive dorgi named Berry insisting on being in the picture.

The 31 members of the winning English squad and coach Clive Woodward grinned and cheered as the snapshot was taken.

Prince William took time out from his university study to attend the reception for the England team.

Other members of the Royal Family also turned up for the event, including Zara Phillips, with the rugby squad cheering with delight when it was announced she would be there.

Mike Tindall was rumoured to be dating the Princess Royal's daughter but earlier denied this was the case.

In the palace music room, the players stood in a semicircle in their grey suits as Johnson and Woodward stepped forward to show the Queen their trophy.

"I'm surprised it's all in one piece, the Queen told Johnson. "You've been carrying it around for several days."

She added: "It's wonderful that you won."

Prince William stood behind his grandmother as she admired the cup.

The Queen was then introduced to the squad by Woodward, shaking hands with each man, as Johnson followed behind accompanying William as he greeted the team.

As the players sipped Indian tea and tucked into cream scones and honey sponge cake, they mingled with members of the Royal Family in the picture gallery.

Johnson described the trip to the palace as a "massive thrill and a great honour".

He said the victory parade was "absolutely amazing. It's a day that will never be repeated for all of us.

"It was fantastic to see the crowds in central London. It's such an honour and a privilege."

Johnson said the Queen had spoken to him about the tension surrounding their win against Australia.

"She commented on how nerve-wracking the game was."

Of the team photo, he said: "It will be a unique picture with the corgis running around."

Asked whether the Queen was now an honorary member of his team, Johnson said: "She was in the front. She was in position."

Drop goal hero Jonny Wilkinson, who was accompanied by girlfriend Diana Stewart, described his audience with the Queen as an honour.

"This is something completely extraordinary. We're just so privileged to be here. It makes people even more proud of the team."

He paid tribute to England's back-up crew who were also there.

"We can't function if we don't have the doctors on form or the physiotherapists putting us back on the pitch," he said.

Of his conversation with the Queen, he said: "She said the final was a long old game and caused some serious stress. She managed to hear the result on the radio before watching the video.

"She's obviously very, very clued up about it."

Asked how he was coping with the intense attention since bringing back the trophy, the fly half said: "A lot of it's good.

"So much of the attention is great. It's really just accepting the amount and not letting it change your life."

Of the mystery of where the final's match-winning ball has disappeared to, Wilkinson said: "I kicked the thing and ran off. Since I kicked it, I couldn't care less what happened to it."

Prince William was seen chatting enthusiastically to the players.

"Like his brother, he loves rugby and was keen to be involved in this," a Clarence House spokesman said.

Prince Harry, who was in Sydney's Telstra Stadium for the final last month, is still Down Under enjoying a three-month stint as an Australian cowboy.

The trophy was placed on the picture gallery's central pedestal for all to see as the players and their partners enjoyed the non-alcoholic reception.

Later, Downing Street was lined with more than 400 schoolchildren from 30 specialist sports colleges from across London, who had turned up to greet the team as they arrived for a reception at No 10.

The England coaching staff were the first to arrive, followed by the players' wives and partners.

Finally, the team members went through the Downing Street gates, attracting the largest cheer of all.

Veteran Jason Leonard led the 30-strong squad, carrying the trophy.

Tory leader Michael Howard was at the reception and Downing Street confirmed that ministers attending included Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Education Secretary Charles Clarke, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Sports Minister Richard Caborn and Chancellor Gordon Brown.