THE QUEEN became a Bond Girl last night — making her acting debut opposite 007
Daniel Craig in a stunning surprise spoof at London 2012’s Opening Ceremony.
She played herself in a hilarious scene shot in secret at Buckingham Palace —
before being apparently “parachuted” into the stadium.
The amazing stunt shocked the thousands inside the Olympic Stadium and the
billions watching on TV worldwide.
Gary Lineker, who was anchoring the BBC’s coverage, tweeted: “The Queen with
James Bond was unquestionably a moment of utter genius.”
In the Royal video shown on giant screens Bond was driven into the Palace in
the back of a black London cab before being led into a room to meet Her
Majesty. She said just one line after looking up from her office desk. She
sighed, unsmiling: “Good evening Mr Bond.”
Footage then showed her climbing aboard a Westland helicopter at the Palace
with 007 and soaring up above London.
The crowd inside the stadium then heard the distant sound of a chopper
hovering.
Pictures beamed on to the screens inside then showed Bond sliding open the
helicopter door before “The Queen” leapt out.
Stuntmen playing the pair skydived down into the arena on Union Jack
parachutes giving the impression Her Majesty had flown in.
Seconds later the Union Flag was drawn from across the Royal Box revealing The
Queen — as the James Bond theme filled the air.
Other Royals in the crowd were Prince William, Kate, Prince Charles, Camilla,
and Prince Harry.
The brilliant ruse was last night hailed as one of the most daring and
innovative ever seen. And visionary Slumdog Millionaire director Boyle —
creator of the ceremony — was being asked how on earth his cheeky Bond stunt
was given royal approval in Diamond Jubilee Year.
Boyle said simply last night: “The Queen made herself more accessible than
ever before.”
Even the royal corgis Monty, Willow and Holly were given a starring role — as
well as one of The Queen’s footmen.
A 2012 source said last night: “It was truly astonishing — stars don’t come
much bigger than The Queen. No one knows how they managed to keep it a
secret. And how on earth did they get her to do it? What a fantastic sport.
It shows the world we know how to have fun.”
The Royal performance was one of the lighthearted highlights as London
wowed the world with a jaw-dropping pageant telling the story of what made
Britain Great.
Among the VIPs watching it in the stadium were US First Lady Michelle Obama,
Prime Minister David Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson, and former PMs
Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Major. Celebs included actors Orlando
Bloom and Hugh Bonneville and TV presenter Phillip Schofield.
Gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes wrote: “This is brilliant… #Pandemonium”
Olympic rings were launched into SPACE using helium balloons at the
start of the spectacular show in East London. Director Boyle turned the vast
stadium into an idyllic country scene at the outset.
There were cottages with smoking chimneys, a waterwheel, 15,000 performers, 40
live sheep, 12 horses, ten chickens, three cows, two goats, nine geese and
three dogs. But the pace quickly picked up as he showed how a nation grew
from a green and pleasant land to a hotbed of industry.
Last night’s £27million extravaganza began at 9pm. Tour de France winner
Bradley Wiggins tolled a vast 23-ton bell saluting London’s famous Cockney
Bow Bells and Big Ben.
That was the signal for the four one-metre white helium balloons carrying a
set of five iconic Olympic rings to be let off high into the sky.
As the show progressed, the rings continued their incredible climb to a height
of 21 miles above the earth. The animals took centre stage on the
specially-laid carpet of 7,346 square metres of real turf complete with a
hill topped by a real oak tree.
A choir then broke into stirring choruses of anthems Jerusalem, Flower of
Scotland, Danny Boy and Bread of Heaven — marking all four nations of
Britain in Boyle’s “Isles of Wonder” show.
Actor Kenneth Branagh then read the Isles of Wonder text from Shakespeare’s
Tempest which inspired Boyle’s vision as the grassy idyll made way for the
story of Britain’s industrial past. Seven vast black chimneys rose from the
floor of the stadium belching smoke with acrobats swirling around them.
The highlight of the industrial segment was the dramatic forging of vast steel
rings which were raised high above the gasping crowd, glowing red hot and
showering brilliant red sparks.
A cavalcade of historic Britons then paraded including newspaper boys, Jarrow
marchers, Chelsea Pensioners, a colliery band, Pearly Kings and Queens,
suffragettes, a steel band and pop music floats paying tribute to the
Beatles and ’70s DJs. A stirring Dambusters March salute then rang out to
mark Britain’s finest hour during World War Two.
Then came The Queen’s starring role — and she, Prince Philip and IOC President
Jacques Rogge were then introduced to the crowd.
Army, Navy and RAF servicemen then took a Union Flag to the hilly tor covering
part of the stadium as a choir of children in pyjamas and hospital gowns
sang the National Anthem. More than 600 dancer volunteers — all NHS staff —
wheeled out 320 beds in a joyous tribute to Britain’s health service.
Nurses in ’40s period dress wheeled in illuminated beds in formation as ’70s
star Mike Oldfield rang out his Tubular Bells anthem.
The giant letters “GOSH” were spelt out on the vast field next to the image of
a tearful child in tribute to London’s famous Great Ormond Street
Hospital. A cheeky nurse song-and-dance routine then broke out as happy kids
danced on their beds on the ward.
