Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96

Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Over the years she had several encounters with James Bond.

Queen Elizabeth II and Daniel Craig as James Bond in the opening ceremony video for the London Olympics in 2012

In a statement released on September 8th, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon."

Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday.

Queen Elizabeth II and James Bond

The Queen came to the throne in 1952, the same year that Ian Fleming started writing his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

Throughout the decades, Queen Elizabeth II attended several James Bond premieres herself.

You Only Live Twice premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 12 June 1967, with Queen Elizabeth II attending and greeting actor Sean Connery.

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Sean Connery and his wife, Diane Cilento at the You Only Live Twice premiere in 1967.
photo © Getty

Die Another Day had its world premiere on 18 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were guests of honour.

The Queen attended the Royal Premiere of Die Another Day in 2002. From left to right: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, director Lee Tamahori, producer Barbara Broccoli, Queen Elizabeth and producer Michael G. Wilson.

Casino Royale premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square, the Odeon West End and the Empire simultaneously in London on 14 November 2006. Casino Royale marked the 60th Royal Film Performance and benefited the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) and its patron, Queen Elizabeth II, was in attendance with the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen and Daniel Craig at the premiere of Casino Royale in 2006

A photo of the Queen appears quite prominently in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service, when James Bond (George Lazenby) decides to quit the secret service and he says, "Sorry, Ma'am", saluting the picture.

"Sorry, Ma'am", George Lazenby as James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, salutes a picture of The Queen

In 2012, the Queen made a very special appearance in an opening video for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In the video, Daniel Craig as James Bond escorts The Queen to the opening ceremony.

Watch the video:

In September 2021, in conjunction with the special screening of No Time To Die, Madame Tussauds London displayed all the statues of the stars who performed as James Bond 007 next to a statue of Queen Elizabeth II.

Six James Bond statues and the statue of Queen Elizabeth II at Madame Tussauds London in 2021

On Sunday 5th June 2022, ten iconic James Bond vehicles joined Act II of the People’s Pageant in a once-in-a-lifetime procession celebrating The Queen and 70 years of exceptional service to her country.

The Queen has reportedly seen all the James Bond movies. According to royal biographer Gyles Brandreth, the Queen "did love all the early James Bond films.” Apparently she preferred the earlier movies, “before they got so loud,” said Brandreth.