Arise, Sir James: the Queen has ‘knighted’ 007 in film for Olympics opening ceremony

After more than 50 years on Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the MI6 agent with a licence to kill may finally get a knighthood.

Buckingham Palace sources have told the Londoner that James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, has secretly received the sword’s tap on his shoulder from the Queen.

The actor, who has been shooting new Bond movie Skyfall, was seen at the Palace with a film crew last month.

“Daniel Craig was here in black tie one morning in early April,” says a source. “Judi Dench [who plays M, the head of MI6] was also here, and the talk of the Palace was that Bond was going to be knighted that morning.”

It is believed that the Queen bestowed the honour as part of a film for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. The event’s artistic director, Danny Boyle, has been filming at the Palace. There has been speculation that, as part of the film, the Queen gives Bond a mission to open the Games and that he will be parachuted into the Stratford stadium.

A knighthood for the agent is long overdue. “Bond did sterling work for Queen and country and deserves a gong,” says Ian Fleming’s biographer Andrew Lycett. “The first Bond book Casino Royale came out in 1953, Coronation Year, so the Queen has something to celebrate.

"James Bond receives an obituary in The Times in You Only Live Twice, in which he is described as Commander James Bond CMG. Reports of his death later prove to be an exaggeration and he is brought back to life for later instalments.”

Craig has deflected enquiries about his mission. “According to the papers, I’ve got an invitation, I’ve been, had tea, sat out with the corgis,” he told LBC.

A spokesman for the Palace said it was involved in a number of filming projects for the Jubilee, but would not discuss specific projects.