James Bond star Daniel Craig described filming a scene with the Queen for London 2012 as “an incredible thing” while admitting the country will never again see the likes of the late monarch.
The world saw a more spirited side to Her Majesty when she made a cameo appearance in director Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the Olympic Games.
In the comedy sketch, Craig, 54, who played British spy 007 in five consecutive films, called at Buckingham Palace to summon the Queen to the event.
Looking back: James Bond star Daniel Craig described filming a scene with the Queen for London 2012 as “an incredible thing”
The Queen, who was sitting at her writing desk, made him wait before greeting him with the words: ‘Good evening, Mr Bond.’
They walked together, along with some of her corgis, towards a helicopter and set off, flying over London to the Olympic Stadium, concluding with a stunt double of the Queen parachuting into the arena.
Seconds later, the real Queen, wearing the same peach dress as the stunt double, entered the stadium to rapturous applause.
Reflecting on the scene, Craig told the BBC at the Toronto International Film Festival: ‘What an incredible thing. We will not see the likes of her ever again.
‘To be alive during her reign is something else. (I’m) very saddened, so I suppose good luck to Charles, really.’
Old times: The world saw a more spirited side to the monarch when she made a cameo appearance in Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the Olympic Games (pictured)
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who co-wrote the Queen’s TV appearances with Paddington Bear and Daniel Craig, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday that the Queen had volunteered herself for the Bond scene.
He said: ‘We went to the Palace asking for permission to represent her and to know what she was wearing on the day, and it was her amazing dresser who said “No, no, she wants to be in it.” She was game and she was up for that.
‘In fact on the day when we were filming, she asked Danny Boyle if she could have a line because there wasn’t a line in the script, probably because when I was typing the script I didn’t quite know how you would type the character of the Queen… what would you type?’
Fond memories: The actor reflected on their scene during a red carpet appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on Saturday (pictured)
Prior to her death during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the US on Wednesday, the former James Bond actor looked back on their meeting as he told the host what she was like in private.
Keen to know what the monarch was like behind closed doors, Stephen, 58, asked: ‘I understand that you may not be able to answer this question, but I’m gonna ask anyway: What’s she like in private?’
Remembering their time together, Craig replied: ‘Very funny. Very funny. [She] wants to crack a joke, and [she] cracked a joke about me.
‘We were having our photographs taken and she just went, “Oh no, he’s the one that doesn’t smile. Fair enough!”‘
He went on to describe what her beloved corgis were like, recalling how he enjoyed time playing with the ‘friendly’ dogs.
Craig explained: ‘I was rolling around on the floor with them most of the time. I think they have their own footmen, they’re very friendly.’
Memory: Craig has recalled the joke the Queen made at his expense when they met during their 2012 Olympics skit, with the star hailing her as ‘very funny’
So sad: The country’s longest-reigning royal, Queen Elizabeth II, died ‘peacefully’, aged 96, at Balmoral in Scotland on Thursday
Chat: Prior to her death during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the US on Wednesday, Craig looked back on their meeting
Funny: ‘We were having our photographs taken and she just went, “Oh no, he’s the one that doesn’t smile. Fair enough!” (pictured with the Queen at the Casino Royale premiere in 2006)
Speaking about the skit in 2012, he said: ‘It wasn’t supposed to be funny. It was supposed to be serious.
‘She was fun, incredibly game. We had a short space of time and I was a bit grumpy as it was my day off and suddenly I am at the Palace with the Queen at her private chamber.’
‘And she improvises a little bit. She was supposed to be sitting at the desk and she asked if she could write, so she pretended to write.’
Four-legged pals: Craig went on to describe what her beloved corgis (pictured) were like, recalling how he enjoyed time playing with the ‘friendly’ dogs
After recalling his interaction with the Queen, Craig shared a heartwarming tribute to her following her death.
In a statement to the PA news agency, the 007 actor paid tribute to the former monarch.
It read: ‘I, like so many, was deeply saddened by the news today and my thoughts are with the royal family, those she loved and all those who loved her.
‘She leaves an incomparable legacy and will be profoundly missed.’
Rest in peace: It comes as Britain is today mourning the death of its beloved Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II
Announcement: Buckingham Palace announced the sad news of the Queen’s passing on Thursday
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