Queen becomes a Bond girl

In a scene filmed in advance and screened for the first time last night, Bond actor Daniel Craig arrived at Buckingham Palace in a dinner jacket and meets the Queen.

“Good evening Mr Bond,” she says, before they leave together, apparently flying away in a helicopter towards the Olympic Stadium. Back in real time, to peels of laughter and delight from the crowd, “the Queen” followed by “Bond”, parachuted from a helicopter towards the stadium, held aloft by Union Flag parachutes.

Seconds later the real Queen and Prince Philip received a standing ovation as they entered the arena.

The stunt, which left the audience awe-struck, was the brainchild of Danny Boyle. “The Queen made herself more accessible then ever before,” Boyle said.