The secret film of Queen Elizabeth and Britain’s most notorious spy. Nobody knew, not even the family

As the world mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, secret footage of her and Britain’s most notorious spy has emerged in the public eye.

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at the age of 96, but this royal face knew how to make her mark during several pop culture appearances in recent years. Of those appearances, the one that stands out is the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

At the beginning of the show, a three-minute video clip was shown showing Her Majesty and the famous British spy, James Bond, who at the time was played by Daniel Craig, meeting at the palace before simultaneously parachuting into the Olympic stadium.

The project, helmed by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, is something she kept secret even from her fellow royals, according to an episode of BBC Radio 4’s The Reunion, which commemorated the 10th anniversary of the moment.

“. The Queen never told her family she was doing itThis was one of the stipulations, that she agreed to be part of it. So if you actually see when she comes in and she sits down, you can see her family saying, ‘Ah, nice,’ ” said production manager Sam Hunter.

Secret footage of Queen Elizabeth has emerged

Stephen Daldry, who was working as executive producer of the event, said the production team had to keep the Queen’s cameo under wraps even from then Prime Minister David Cameron’s office. Some of these people communicated regularly with Buckingham Palace, so if they knew, the secret might be out.

Their discretion paid off when the draft was released to an audience of over a billion people. While the actual jump, of course, was performed by stuntmen, the camaraderie the Queen and Craig came to share was real.

“I, like many, was deeply saddened by today’s news and my thoughts are with the Royal Family, those she loved and all who loved her,” Craig said after the Queen’s death.

Craig and the Queen were also photographed together in 2006 at the premiere of Craig’s first role as 007, Casino Royale. She officially recognized the actor in December, after he announced his departure from the franchise, on her annual New Year’s honors list. Craig was made a Companion in the Order of St Michael and St George for his outstanding contribution to the film. Bond himself had earned the honor in film for his spy work.

In February, Craig revealed just a little of what the Queen was like in private during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He said she was “very funny” and liked to make jokes about him.