Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth to receive Olympic torch

Jul 10, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will receive the Olympic torch in Windsor today (10.07.12).

The monarch and her husband Prince Philip will welcome the flame to Windsor Castle at around 14.45 this afternoon, when it will be carried past St George's Chapel and into the quadrangle by 12-year-old Philip Wells.

Earlier today, Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave rowed down the River Thames at Henley one-handed with the torch in the other, joined by a crew of six young local rowers, with another Olympian, Garry Herbert, as the cox.

Sir Roger Bannister, 83, started today's relay by carrying the flame around Oxford's Iffley Road stadium, where he broke the four-minute mile in 1954, and said it was an 'honour' to be a part of the relay.

111 torchbearers - including chefs Raymond Blanc and Heston Blumenthal and former soccer star Ray Wilkins - will carry the Olympic Flame through Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Bisham, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, Windsor, Egham, Ascot, Bracknell and Reading.

Before she receives the torch, the queen will meet new French President Francois Hollande.

The monarch will receive the European politician in a private meeting at Windsor Castle on his first official visit to London since taking office.

A royal spokesperson said: 'The queen is very happily able to receive the new French president at Windsor.

'The queen is currently in residence at Windsor Castle so the queen will receive the president on Tuesday in a private room.'