By: Barry Soper | Thursday, June 07, 2012 12:00 AM

It seems the idea of food banks has well and truly caught on with State Homie John Key, although the woman he was visiting wasn't exactly in dire need of sustenance.

For a start she probably lives in the world's most lavish state house, sitting on hectares of what must be the world's most expensive real estate.

Lizzie in London is particular about who she gets her food from - New World or Countdown simply wouldn't get a look in. Not that she pushes the supermarket trolley around herself, but Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly does deliver and has been the preferred Royal grocer for centuries.

But The Homie became something of a barrow boy when he fronted up for an audience with The Queen at Buck House with a trolley load of grub fit for, well, a Queen.

There was a presentation box of Kapiti cheeses. There was blue, brie and of course a variety of cheddars, port wine, smoked and aged blocks. And as The Family contemplates a post dinner port they could use the lemon mellow wine wafers with the variety of preserves supplied by the Prime Minister bearing gifts. The beetroot pickle's a treat, so too is the quince jelly, the kiwifruit chutney (that clearly survived the viral outbreak) and there was even something for the morning after - the Black Doris plum jam.

They'd all look rather nice on the rimu cheese board that was supplied with the grocery list.

Perhaps Lizzie should invite her Prime Minister David Cameron around for dinner and he could bring the wine The Homie supplied at Number 10 Downing Street the night before. They could certainly have a chuckle about one of the gifts for the Cameron kids, a Buzzy Bee.

Lizzie would no doubt reminisce about little Willie who made the toy famous when he sucked one of the antennae on Government House lawn in Auckland when Chuck and his new bride Lady Di came calling so many years ago.

Thing is, the gift to The Queen is a safe one. If she doesn't like the cheeses the Royal mouse traps at Buck House could always use them.

And to think The Homie was asked whether he'd posed for any pics while he was at Number 10 and he shrugged, in an awe shucks sort of a way, and said it'd be too cheesy!

Barry Soper is following John Key in Europe thanks to Air New Zealand.

Photo: Getty Images