The Queen let Tom Cruise land helicopter on her lawn after inviting him for tea at Windsor Castle

THE Queen invited Tom Cruise for tea at Windsor Castle — and even let him land his helicopter on her lawn.

She had been disappointed that she had not got to meet the Top Gun star during a Platinum Jubilee event.

But they “really hit it off” when they finally got to chat, according to sources.

They added Her Majesty “loved seeing him” — so much so that he was invited back for lunch. But the Queen died aged 96 before that could happen.

The pair had been due to meet in May at A Gallop Through History — an equestrian event in the Castle grounds.

The Hollywood star, who had been filming his latest Mission Impossible film in the UK, said before the pageant: “She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. 

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“What she has accomplished has been historic. I just remember always as a kid seeing photos of her.”

He was said to have delighted guests during a private reception in the royal box after the pageant — but the Queen had already left as she was suffering mobility issues. 

A source told The Times: “The Queen let it be known she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the pageant.

“So he was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him.

“Afterwards, just the two of them had tea together.

“She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch.”

The Queen was said to have arranged for the meeting to be photographed and allowed Tom to try his hand at firing a ceremonial gun.

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