The 80-year-old monarch invited the English Premiership club's players and staff to the palace for a tour of the State Apartments before their gathering in the Bow Room.

Gunners captain Thierry Henry, the club's record goal scorer, swapped his red and white kit for a smart dark suit and tie for the occasion.

"We had a chance to come here and have a look around and meet the queen. What a pleasure," said the France striker, dubbed "king Henry" by fans.

League Cup finalists Arsenal booked an FA Cup clash with Blackburn by beating Bolton 3-1 after extra time in a fourth round replay epic on Wednesday - but missed two penalties in the process.

"We had some questions about the penalties yesterday," Henry said.

"The queen congratulated us with the win and that was amazing, the lads inside were over the Moon.

"Even not being an Englishman, what a privilege to see the queen and come here."

Arsenal are playing their first season in Emirates Stadium in north London, just around the corner from Highbury, which was their home since 1913. The queen's husband Prince Philip took her place at the opening ceremony three months ago.

Henry's new stomping ground is a giant concrete and gleaming glass construction, but he was overwhelmed by the Buckingham Palace architecture.

"So beautiful, the way it has been maintained is just out of this world. I would feel a bit lost here," he said.

It is rare for Queen Elizabeth, known for her robust health and stamina, to pull out of engagements.

But she sustained a back injury months before the Emirates Stadium date and had been advised by her doctors to cut down her workload.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The queen was disappointed about not being able to officially open the new Arsenal stadium due to her back strain, especially as so much effort had been put in by so many people behind the scenes.

"Her majesty therefore decided to host a tea at Buckingham Palace to thank those involved in the project for all their hard work and to have a chance to meet some of those she would have seen on the day."

Arsenal have some royal credentials themselves - and not just because they count Queen Elizabeth's youngest grandson Prince Harry among their fans.

The club was formed as Dial Square when workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team in 1886. Later that year they switched the name to Royal Arsenal before becoming Woolwich Arsenal in 1891.

Woolwich was dropped from the name when they moved from southeast London to Highbury.