… and the daredevil who took a Royal dive

• Professional parachutist Gary Connery and Miss Marple actress Julia McKenzie teamed up to stand in for Her Majesty on film

 

Few women would pass up the chance of being whisked away in a helicopter by 007 star Daniel Craig – even the Queen could not resist such an invitation.

A great-grandmother and octogenarian, she is probably too mature now to be called a Bond girl.

But when the secret agent from the movies called on the Palace to ask her to accompany him on a  special mission, she had no hesitation in accepting.

The result was the most talked-about sequence of Danny Boyle’s stunning Olympics Opening Ceremony.

In the segment, prerecorded at Buckingham Palace, the Queen receives the 007 star with the words: ‘Good evening, Mr Bond.’

They then leave and walk towards a helicopter, corgis in tow, and at one point Craig gives a nuanced glance in Her Majesty’s direction.

It was the Queen’s first film role, but it was revealed yesterday that she needed only one take.

‘She’s a good actor,’ said Mr Boyle last night.

‘She’s very sharp. You didn’t have to tell her anything twice.’ Not only that, he added, but she also ‘got along with James Bond very well’.

It was all the irrepressible Mr Boyle’s idea. He raised it with London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe, who thought it inspired.

If Lord Coe was a little doubtful, however, that it would be well received by the Queen’s courtiers, he was quickly reassured.

They listened sagely, laughed, and promised to ask the Boss.

The Mail on Sunday has discovered that it was her deputy private secretary, Edward Young, a former adviser to William Hague, who acted as the go-between.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

By IAN GALLAGHER
Source: Mail on Sunday (UK)