Her Majesty's date with 007

Nov 14, 2006, 13:50 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will attend the world premiere of the James Bond film 'Casino Royale' tonight (14.11.06).

The monarch has decided to brave her continuing back pain and will be accompanied by her husband Prince Philip for the glitzy red carpet event in London's Leicester Square.

The 80-year-old royal has been diagnosed with chronic sciatica and has been forced to cancel a number of official engagements because of her suffering.

However, the queen is an avid 007 fan and she was determined to attend the much-anticipated premiere.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that the queen's back problem was "a private medical matter", but it is understood she has suffered from sciatica since a 2003 operation on damaged cartilage in a knee.

Despite her condition, Elizabeth will also honour her duty of attending the state opening of the British parliament tomorrow (15.11.06), where she will set out the legislative programme for Prime Minister Tony Blair's government over the next year.

She is expected to deliver a speech outlining plans for a range of new laws focussing on crime, terrorism and climate change.

(C) BANG Media International