Theo Walcott has advised talkSPORT of the time he and his Arsenal teammates – together with legend Thierry Henry – have been left ‘starstruck’ after they met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
The beloved late monarch was on account of open the Emirates Stadium when it opened in 2006, however was unable to attend, main her to ask the complete Gunners squad to her residence the next yr.
For a fresh-faced 17-year-old Walcott, the expertise was a surreal second in his younger life, whereas a few of Arsenal’s extra senior gamers have been left ‘in awe’.
Significantly all-time document goalscorer Henry, whose job it was to introduce every of his teammates to Her Majesty.
It was an unforgettable second for the gamers, with Cesc Fabregas insisting ever since that the monarch was a Gooner, whereas staff clown Emmanuel Eboue even made Her Royal Highness laugh with joke about her corgis.
Walcott joined talkSPORT to pay his tribute to the Queen following her death at the age of 96 on Thursday, surrounded by her royal household at Balmoral Fort.
“After all it’s very unhappy and one in every of my first reminiscences went to that day which was very surreal, to be trustworthy,” the previous Arsenal man advised White and Jordan.
“I believe we have been the primary and solely staff to do it as properly.
“Clearly I used to be very younger and I simply bear in mind the entire Arsenal staff was in there, all completely different cultures, and the Queen is available in and speaks to everybody.
“Thierry [Henry] simply appears in awe and was so starstruck which was unimaginable to see.
“Then she got here to me and mentioned, ‘you’re moderately younger to be on this staff’ and I didn’t know what to say!
“She made me snort. She touched lots of people and made them snort and what she’s achieved for this nation and her service by way of her entire, whole life is simply unimaginable and it’s very unhappy information.
“That reminiscence is one thing that can persist with me for all times. It was actually, actually cool.
“I used to be simply 17, so even within the Arsenal dressing room I type of felt that it was a bit a lot after which to go to Buckingham Palace, it was like a unique world at that stage in my life.
“So much occurred in a short time, however that was an unimaginable day and a day that I’m going to be sharing with my kids as properly. It was unbelievable.”
Requested about joker Eboue practising his bow earlier than attending, Walcott laughed: “He did!
“Eboue was the character within the dressing room and he positively confirmed that however I really feel like she actually loved the corporate and the way she noticed everybody.
“I even bear in mind [Manuel] Almunia had tea and he doesn’t like tea, and he was like ‘I don’t like tea, however that is what they do right here!’
“It was actually intriguing to see all the completely different cultures concerned and it was a extremely massive day for Arsenal and the gamers.”
Walcott added: “I’m one of many fortunate ones. I’m positive she met some unimaginable characters and unimaginable folks in her lifetime, however in my brief stint of assembly her it was a extremely big day and one thing that I’ll always remember.
“So I used to be very happy to be part of that Arsenal group on the time.
“Final evening watching the TV with every part that was happening and the nationwide anthem is being sung, I simply sang it within the kitchen with my spouse and it introduced again loads of reminiscences.
“I bought chills in my physique as a result of it was a unbelievable achievement for myself to play for my nation and to sing the nationwide anthem with the followers.
“It at all times felt prefer it was barely out of time which had one thing particular about it since you may type of hear the background of the followers singing it as properly and that occurred 47 occasions, so it was a particular second.”
