Last updated at 14:32 23 April 2007

The Queen has been a fan of Arsenal for more than 50 years, royal sources have revealed.

Support for the Gunners runs in the family, with her mother, the late Queen Mother, and grandson Harry also showing support for the North London team.

The revelation came after the Queen, 81, met the Arsenal team and manager Arsene Wenger at a reception in Buckingham Palace in February.

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Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 19, caught her eye at the private function and she rushed to speak to the footballer - chatting about her friend King Juan Carlos of Spain, according to The Sun.

Fabregas told Spanish radio: "It seems the Queen follows football and she told us she was an Arsenal fan. She appeared to definitely know who I was and we exchanged a few special words."

The Queen was disappointed after a back injury prevented her from opening the team's new ground, the Emirates Stadium, last October, and the team were invited to the reception in February.

A royal source told The Sun: “Her Majesty has been fond of Arsenal for over 50 years. Her late mother was a self-confessed Gooner, due largely to her admiration of their former player Denis Compton."

Prince Harry has watched the team at the Emirates, and their former ground, HIghbury.