Britain's 5ft 4ins Queen today met England's 6ft 7ins rugby union captain as the World Cup-winning team came to central London to celebrate their victory.
The visit to the palace came in the middle section of a day that saw a police estimate of 750,000 fans pouring on to the capital's streets and turning Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square into a sea of red and white.
Captain Martin Johnson said the parade was "absolutely mind-blowing" and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, whose last-minute drop kick gave England the final, said: "Being on this bus is one of the greatest moments of my life".
The jubilant players paraded the Webb Ellis Trophy, wrestled from reigning champions Australia last month, in open top buses through a two-mile scrum of supporters.
The Sweet Chariot victory parade began at noon at the team hotel in Marble Arch and made its way along a packed Oxford Street. The squad of 30 players looked overawed by the reception, many of them taking their own photographs and videos as England flags, red and white ticker tape and celebratory chants accompanied the procession.
To add to its success in Sydney, the London mayor, Ken Livingstone, gave the squad the freedom of Greater London.
Wilkinson said he and his teammates were "overwhelmed" by the support when they arrived at Trafalgar Square. "We are proud to be here and we are glad that the game went our way.
"When you see the sort of support you understand just what it means to go out there and represent your nation in sport. It just makes you so keen to go out there and succeed at something else again."
Geoff and Rachel Hudson brought their two children, Henry, aged seven, and Eliza, six, to watch the spectacle. The family travelled from Market Harborough in Leicestershire to see the champions.
Mr Hudson, 39, said: "It is the World Cup - it is the one time we have actually achieved something in a sport that is not particularly popular. It is a sport for idiots played by gentlemen."
The team later went to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen posed for photographs with the squad.
The 31 members of the winning English squad and coach Clive Woodward grinned and cheered as the picture was taken.
Several corgis 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.
Prince William, the Princess Royal, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Kent also attended the event.
Johnson said it would be a "unique picture" with the corgis running around.