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John Key spends time with the Queen. - Source: ONE News -
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Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh have dined with the Queen at Windsor Castle in London.
Key presented her with a gift of New Zealand Twinings tea and Manuka honey.
He told her about his earlier visit to Westminster Abbey, where preparations are being made for the royal wedding.
Key said the main topic of conversation was the Christchurch earthquake.
"She has great passion and care for New Zealand and she wanted me to pass on her best wishes to the people of Christchurch and the Pike River families," he said.
Key also chatted to the Queen about the upcoming wedding of Price William and Kate Middleton.
However details of the conversation remain tight lipped.
Key and his wife Bronagh then joined the Queen and Prince Phillip for a three course lunch.
"We had a sort of hollandaise egg to start, some beef for the main course and Pannacotta for desert, which was delicious," said Key.
Key also said one of the Queen's many corgis gave him a lick during lunch.
"But he didn't get any of the beef."
"The Queen has made some time to see me and I think it's a wonderful thing, but it's a great mark of respect for the people of New Zealand," Key said yesterday.
He also told reporters prior to the meeting that he had been boning up on briefings to ensure he doesn't breach etiquette.
"I'll try and make sure I address the Queen appropriately. But I've been in her company on a number of occasions as Prime Minister and my experience is that she is very gifted at making people at ease. She has a deep history and knowledge of New Zealand so it's easy conversation."
Key said he was sure the Queen would want to talk about the Christchurch earthquake and Pike River disaster, as Prince William had visited victims and their families in February.
He would also discuss the Commonwealth heads of Government
meeting in Australia which she will attend at the end of the
year.
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