JAMES Bond star Daniel Craig is to open the 2012 Olympic Games ceremony after a personal invitation from The Queen. She asked him into Buckingham Palace to film spectacular scenes as 007 for London's sporting extravaganza.
In the film, he arrives by Royal Appointment to be told his latest mission is to launch the Games.
Her Majesty may even make a cameo appearance but the Palace is keeping details a secret.
A billion people watching on TV around the world will see Bond getting his instructions before he is taken by helicopter to parachute into the Olympic stadium in Stratford, East London.
Daniel, 44, and a film crew headed by Trainspotting director Danny Boyle were given unprecedented access to The Queen's private rooms on Tuesday.
They also shot helicopter and parachuting scenes. Danny, creative director of the opening ceremony, has chosen to make MI6 agent Bond a key part of the spectacle which will kick-start the Olympics.
The Queen, who is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year, had to personally sanction the move � which will give a glimpse inside the famous landmark.
A source on set said: "It's a huge coup for BBC producers and Danny to be allowed into the Palace and have the Queen involved.
"They wanted the most iconic British film character inside the building most associated with London and with the monarch � and they got it. "It will be a magical scene for all watching at home and inside the stadium on July 27.
"Working out the logistics of filming has taken months and hasn't been easy � but it will be worth it in the end."
Crew members were given strict instructions not to tell any members of the public what they were filming. Cameras and mobiles were banned on the set. The film � to be fed into the opening ceremony � was given the name "The Arrival". Julia McKenzie, who played Miss Marple in the ITV show, was also involved in the shoot.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of British Bond movies.
A Palace spokesman said: "Buckingham Palace is involved in a number of filming projects during this special Jubilee year and we would not go into details of any particular project until nearer the time of transmission." Yesterday one of the Queen's granddaughters, Princess Beatrice, 23, was among 5,000 runners who completed a five-mile lap of the Olympic Park.
She crossed the finish line in the Olympic stadium in front of an invited crowd of 12,000 � then gave medals to winners in the event organised by the National Lottery.
THE Sun's Royal Editor Duncan Larcombe says: "The Queen is determined to make sure 2012 is unforgettable.
"By inviting James Bond into her home for this film, Her Majesty has shown she wants to be at the heart of the celebrations.
"Once again it's a refreshing sign of her sense of humour and willingness to step outside tedious protocol.
"She may be turning 86 this month but the monarch clearly still loves a party. And she retains that sixth sense of all that puts the Great into Great Britain."
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