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The Queen and Prince Harry were photographed gazing wistfully at the Webb Ellis Cup as they welcomed Rugby World Cup stars to a Buckingham Palace reception.

And while the prince, an avid rugby fan, grinned as he posed with the trophy, it will be the closest an Englishman gets to lifting it after the team was knocked out of the competition on 3 October.

But their humiliating loss to Australia - which saw them become the first ever host nation to go out at the group stages - appeared to be far from the players' minds as they chatted with the Royal Family. 

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Wistful: The Queen and Prince Harry admired the Webb Ellis Cup as they welcomed Rugby World Cup to Buckingham Palace

What happened! Rugby fan Prince Harry commiserated with England head coach Stuart Lancaster, left, and captain Chris Robshaw, centre

As close as England will get! Prince Harry grinned as he posed with the Webb Ellis Cup, left, before delivering a speech, right

Animated: The Queen chatted with team captains and their head coaches, including England's Stuart Lancaster, left, and Chris Robshaw

Accompanied by Prince Harry, her husband, Prince Philip, and daughter, Princess Anne, the Queen invited 400 guests to the reception to mark the country’s staging of the prestigious international tournament. The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra also attended.

The sovereign is Patron of the RFU, while her grandsons, Princes William and Harry, are are Vice-Patrons of the Welsh Rugby Union and RFU respectively. Princess Anne is also Patron of Scottish Rugby Union and has been seen cheering her men on from the stands. 

They were joined by captains from all 20 participating teams, as well as senior official from the tournament organisers, England Rugby 2015, as well as the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and World Rugby, and staff and volunteers working at the event.

Prince Harry, who was in the stands at Twickenham to watch England lose 33-13 to the Wallabies, was seen commiserating with captain Chris Robshaw and head coach Stuart Lancaster. The prince patted Robshaw on the arm and gave him the thumbs up as he wished him the best for the future. 

The Royal Family entered The White Drawing Room through the 'secret entrance' - a door hidden in a full height mirror that leads to the Queen's private apartments - where the monarch was presented with a specially-commissioned World Cup Participation Medal.

'It's very smart, isn't it,' she said cheerily as she was presented with the medal by the director of World Rugby, Bernard Lapasset. 

The Queen had either been glued to her television set at Balmoral in recent weeks, or had been extraordinarily well briefed, as she chatted animatedly with the 20 team captains and their head coaches and notable faces from the game, including former England and Lions captain Bill Beaumont.

Prince Harry, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh admire the Webb Ellis Cup as they are joined by players from competing teams

The Queen with Scotland head coach Vern Cotter (left) and captain Greig Laidlaw (right), and Fran Leighton of England Rugby 2015

The Queen shook hands with England captain Chris Robshaw as her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, greeted players behind

Prince Harry with Welsh players Gethin Jenkins, centre, and Alun-Wyn Jones. His brother, William, has been supporting their team

Lighthearted: Prince Harry shared a joke with Ireland player Jamie Heaslip, centre, and head coach Mick Kearney

Like most of the players, Welsh Captain Sam Warburton towered over the Queen when he met her and joked about being terrified of crushing her hand.

The player, whose face was covered in cuts and bruises from his country's most recent clash at the weekend, said: 'It's a real honour to be here tonight.'

The player said he and his team had enjoyed keeping tabs on the 'banter' between Princes William and Harry over their support for Wales and England, but added: 'That's what great about rugby. You can have that kind of banter and then get on and support the other home nations.'

Harry and his brother the Duke of Cambridge, who is vice patron of the WRU, attended the clash between Wales and England but were cheering for different sides.

William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, proudly sported the Welsh colours while Harry wore an England rugby shirt with the message 'Carry Them Home' at the back. 

International stars: Prince Harry with South Africa's Victor Matfield, centre, and Bryan Habana, who will meet Wales in the quarter finals

All is forgiven: The prince patted Chris Robshaw on the arm and gave him the thumbs up as he wished him the best for the future

Team talk: England head coach Stuart Lancaster, left, and captain Chris Robshaw, centre, are greeted by Prince Harry at the reception

It was Harry, who is Honorary President of England 2015, who delivered the welcome speech at the reception. He described it as a 'privilege' to see the tournament being played in England, adding that it was 'one of the most competitive and entertaining world cups ever'. 

The prince could help but allude to England's disappointment, saying: 'Although only half way through, we have witnessed some truly memorable moments, and one or two upsets!

'Each nation has played with a level of commitment that has made this such an exciting and unpredictable tournament, engaging new fans like never before. It has also grown into the largest tournament to date. We have seen capacity crowds and new Rugby World Cup attendance records.

'Fan zones have been packed with hundreds of thousands of expectant supporters from every competing nation. And the global broadcast audience has been staggering.' 

Meet and greet: Prince Harry shook hands with England captain Chris Robshaw before speaking with him about the tournament

Some of the rugby players invited pose behind the Webb Ellis Cup, which will be handed to the winner of the tournament

The prince added spiritedly: 'Eight teams and their supporters continue on this nail biting journey.

'Despite the odd bragging rights, it has been brilliant to see supporters from all countries and from all backgrounds come together to share in the celebration of the game….regardless of the result.

'England may no longer be represented on the pitch, but as a nation we are incredibly proud to be hosting such a successful tournament. A showcase for rugby, which - I truly believe – will help grow the game through its excitement and increasing fan base.'

England's Chris Robshaw declined to speak to reporters but his teammate James Haskell said of the mood in the England camp after their final World Cup game against Uruguay on Saturday: 'We've got a very good spirit amongst the lads although we're all bitterly disappointed.

'It's very disappointing not to still be in the World Cup. It's over for us now. I popped into Wasps this morning and saw some of the guys, we've all got personal challenges we need to continue to do.

We've done it - you've not! Prince William and Kate celebrate at full-time as a dejected Harry stands gutted looking to the skies

'But it's important we see if off in the right way [and] going to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen, to get involved in what is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's pretty special and as an England player we need to play our part and make sure we hold our heads up high.'

He added about the evening: 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the Queen. I drive by Buckingham Palace a lot and have always wondered what it's like to be inside.

'When we were at Twickenham I was sitting in the crowd for a few on the games I the camera panned over to (William and Harry) and I think the look that Harry gave William when he was cheering for Wales says it all. It's great to see we're getting the (royal) support.'

After Harry's speech guests mingled in the ballroom, most of the players declining the champagne on offer in favour of organic apple juice and water but tucking into a delicious range of canapés ranging from mini ham and cheese toasties to watercress pan-cotta , smoked duck terrine and smoked haddock fish cakes.