'It's wonderful': After starring role in Opening Ceremony, the Queen delivers her verdict on the Games as Britain catches Olympic fever

• Olympic fever spreading as nearly one million people lined the streets to watch the cycling
• Passengers travelling up to Manchester for the football have endured uncomfortable journeys with many being told to catch a later train
• Sir Steve Redgrave said he was 'a little disappointed' that he was not able to light the Olympic flame
• The Met police have arrested 16 people and charged two for ticket touting outside the stadium

By Daily Mail Reporter

As Olympic fever spreads through the nation, the Queen has delivered her verdict on the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games by describing it as 'wonderful'.
During a tour of the Olympic Park site in Stratford, east London, the Queen said to London Mayor Boris Johnson that she thoroughly enjoyed taking a starring role in Danny Boyle's ceremony and added that the 'Pandemonium' sequence which celebrates the industrial revolution was 'wonderful'.
The Queen wowed as she appeared in a five-minute sequence with James Bond actor Daniel Craig which showed her leaving Buckingham Palace in a helicopter and apparently parachuting into the Olympic stadium.

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The Queen described the opening ceremony as 'wonderful' and smiled her way through a tour of the Olympic Park on Saturday afternoon

The Queen met athletes and spoke to members of the Great Britain team as she took a tour of the Athletes Village in Stratford, east London

The Queen waves as she visits the Aquatics Centre during a tour of the Olympic Park as her daughter, The Princess Royal, far right, looks on

LOCOG chairman Lord Sebastian Coe clearly said something amusing to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during their tour of the park

The Queen watches the morning session of the swimming at the Aquatics Centre during a tour of the Olympic Park on day one of the London 2012 Games

London Mayor Boris Johnson shows the Queen a view of the Olympic Park from the top of the Orbit during a short tour of the site in Stratford, east London

The 86-year-old Monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh, 91, both showed astonishing vigor as they returned to the site less than nine hours after the end of the spectacle to meet and greet with team Great Britain and other Olympic dignitaries.
Speaking after a trip to the top of the 377ft Orbit which overlooks the park, Mr Johnson said: 'I've just been discussing the Queen's performance last night - how much she enjoyed making her dramatic debut.'
The Queen also met with swimmers, basketball and hockey players and was shown their living quarters. 'This is an extraordinarily tidy room for the athletes,' she said according to the Sunday Telegraph. She then joked, 'Maybe I should look into that cupboard.'[related]
Her Majesty was also taken on a tour of the Aquatics Centre and watched swimmers warm up on day one of the Games. She was joined by various Olympic dignitaries including her daughter, The Princess Royal and LOCOG Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe.
But there have been reports of passengers enduring uncomfortable journeys after hundreds of fans travelled up to Old Trafford in Manchester to watch Egypt and New Zealand.
Just two Virgin Train services, both full, left London this morning but they were so full many could not get through the doors. But many Brazilians, who took official advice to allow plenty of time to get to the 3pm kick off against Belarus, turned up earlier than the train firm had expected, leaving fans unable to board the first service at Milton Keynes Central.

Cyclists race along The Mall past the Queen Victoria Monument at the start of the Men's Road Race Cycling on day one of the London 2012 Olympics

Cyclists pedal in front of Buckingham Palace during the Men's Road Cycling Race at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London

Cyclists leave the starting line during the Women's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Disappointment: Cavendish finished in 29th place after hours of racing, left, while his girlfriend Peta Todd, right, pictured with their young daughter Delilah, let her emotions show

Buzz: Cyclists make their way past crowds at Queen Victoria Monument and Buckingham Palace in central London

Virgin Trains said anyone who was unable to board the 8.10am service was able to get the second train, 10 minutes later.
Mario Alberto Do Silva Lopes, a Brazilian courier from London, who got on at Euston, said: 'Of course they should have put more trains on. I have paid £75, and for what? For nothing. I am very unhappy and there are lots of people who think the same.'
Bernd Muellenhof, from Hannover, Germany, said: 'I have been here since Friday and there haven't been any problems with transport up until now.
'They should have put more trains on this morning. It's really busy on here.'
New Zealander Renee Bigelow, who lives in north-east London, said: 'I've had to sit on the cafe floor. There's a bit of camaraderie between everyone.
'People are making the best of the situation... £74 for a ticket is probably not right.'
A Virgin Trains spokesman said: 'Trains from London to Manchester this morning were a great deal busier than expected. They're both full. As we understand it, a large number of people travelling for the Brazil match which kicks off at 3pm turned up for these trains this morning.
'We were expecting them to spread their journeys out, but people have decided to head up there early.'
He added that a normal Sunday service was operating, with just two trains from London arriving in Manchester before noon. Both left within 10 minutes of each other, at 8.10 and 8.20, and will arrive at 10.55 and 11.03, the firm's timetable showed.
London 2012 organisers have been encouraging all supporters to get to their events early, a message constantly repeated in the run-up to and during the Olympics.
Greater Manchester Police said on Twitter: 'A reminder that the Brazil v Belarus game is the second match today, kick off 3pm, so fans advised to take their seats in plenty of time.'

Hope: Around a million people lined the roads to watch Bradley Wiggins, front, and teammates go for gold in the Men's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Strain: Bradley Wiggins, just a few days after becoming the first Britain to win the Tour De France, rides on the front of the Men's Road Race Road

Support: Spectators cheer and takes pictures as the pack ride past during the Men's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Home straight: The eventual gold and silver placed riders, Alexandr Vinokurov and Rigoberto Uran, ride alongside Buckingham Palace during a tense finale

Flying the flag: One young fan showed her support by painting her face in the colours of the Union Jack, while another carried the colours of the Isle of Man, from where Cavendish hails

The atmosphere across London has been electric especially as more than a million people showed true Olympic spirit by gathering along the streets to watch the men's cycling.

The British riders, who were expected to triumph, finished far down the field, but nobody complained, nobody demanded explanations. For they had played their part in the Olympics. And that was enough.
Close by the finish line, in a grandstand on The Mall, the great and the good surveyed the scene. Jeremy Hunt, Ed Miliband, the Princess Royal, they had all turned out to  support the British favourite Mark Cavendish, perhaps to bathe in his anticipated glory.

Yet they too seemed sanguine about the result, because they knew that something extraordinary is happening. A £9.5 billion gamble may be about to pay off. Britain has fallen in love with the Games.
The astonishing evidence could be found in the pocket of another of those grandstand guests. Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC, was carrying some of the most remarkable audience figures in the history of British television. No fewer than 27 million people had watched Friday evening’s  Opening Ceremony. More amazing, 20 million were still watching at midnight. Small wonder there was a distinct smugness in his Lordship’s smile.

Fight to the finish: Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov dashed Britain's hopes of an early gold medal by powering to victory over favourite Mark Cavendish

Royal approval: Before the race Mark Cavendish had briefly chatted with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall

Even the wilder optimists were unprepared for such statistics. Britain is a country sunk in double-dip recession, with unemployment savagely biting, family spending power slashed and economic forecasts growing more sombre by the month. Yet the 19 days of Olympic competition are set to shatter attendance records in the 34 venues across the UK.
It is hoped the influx of tourists will give a boost to businesses and already there have been reports of increased spending.
The world's largest McDonald's, which has been built just 200 metres from the stadium, has been a huge hit with spectators and has been packed with people since the Games started.
People have been queuing out the doors and the fast food store is one of four in the Olympic park and will be open for six weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics.
More than 50,000 Big Mac burgers and 180,000 portions of fries are expected to be served from the outlet. The huge temporary branch has seating for 1,500 customers and employs more than 2,000 staff.
Around three million people are expected to visit the branch from now until September 9.
The 3,000 square-metre restaurant has been built from recyclable materials and stretches over two floors and is equivalent to half the length of an American football field.
The 12,000 people who applied to work at the huge branch had to take part in X-Factor style auditions, in which they were judged on politeness and how well they flipped burgers, served ice cream and cooked the French fries.
Meanwhile, a man and woman have been charged with ticket touting after being arrested near the Olympic stadium before Friday night's spectacular opening ceremony.
Police say Wolfgang Menzel, a 57-year-old German, has been charged with ticket touting under Section 31 of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act 2006. He is due to appear in court on Monday.

Maria Bukranova, a 30-year-old Slovakian, of Woolwich, south east London, was charged with the same offence and was bailed to appear before magistrates later this week.
They were among 16 people arrested on Friday and Saturday by police trying to stamp out ticket touting at the Olympics.

A general view during the Men's Beach Volleyball Preliminary Round on the first day at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday

Thousands of people attended the volleyball at Horse Guards Parade during the London 2012 Olympics

Dancers perform during a show in between beach volleyball matches at the Horse Guards Parade during the London 2012 Games

The dancers kept the crowds entertained while they waited for matches to start at the Horse Guards Parade in London

OLYMPIC LEGEND 'A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED' AT NOT BEING ABLE TO LIGHT THE FLAME

Former Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave, who also had a starring role in the ceremony said he was 'a little disappointed' that he was not picked to light the actual flame.

The rowing legend - who was the favourite to light the cauldron on Friday night - said his competitor's ego meant he would have loved to have lit the flame.
He said organisers had got it right with the decision for seven young athletes to light the cauldron, but told the Sunday Telegraph it was other people's expectations he found difficult.

Torchbearer Sir Steve Redgrave said he was 'a little disappointed' at not being able to light the flame but added it was the right decision to get the younger athletes to do it

And he also admitted he would have struggled if the honour had gone to an athlete from his own generation.
During the epic ceremony, Sir Steve ran into the stadium holding the torch, passing it over to the seven youngsters nominated by himself and other British Olympic heroes.
Writing in today's Sunday Telegraph, he said being the last Olympian to carry the torch was a great honour.
But he said: 'Of course looking back I must admit that when I was told it would not be me lighting the flame at the Opening Ceremony, I was a little disappointed.
'It was not a question of arrogance. It was about the expectation of everybody I knew, who kept saying that it had to be me when I knew deep down that it was not going to happen.'
He had been called around two-and-a-half weeks before and given a rough idea of what would happen, he said.
'As an extremely competitive individual with an ego, there is a part of me that would love to have lit the flame.
'I never had any problem with the seven youngsters taking the torch, because it was a genuinely humbling spectacle. But it was the expectations of others that I found difficult.'
He said he even found his pre-show TV segment with Sue Barker and Gary Lineker difficult, because he knew he was not the person who would undertake the task.
But the rowing hero said organisers had got it right - symbolising the aim of inspiring a future generation.
Although he did admit: 'It is no disrespect to my contemporaries, but I think I would have found it very difficult if another athlete from my generation had been carrying out this role and not me.'
He said bringing the flame into the stadium was an 'indescribable feeling' and he felt he had completed his Olympic journey by passing the torch to the next generation.
Sir Steve, who has competed in five Olympic Games, urged the country to unite behind the nation's athletes, whether they were interested in sport or not.
'For myself I will remember that night in London for the rest of my days with a great deal of honour and pride.'

Russia's Anastasia Vasina, right, and Anna Vozakova celebrate at Centre Court of the stadium in Horse Guards Parade at the end of the second set of their women's beach volleyball preliminary phase

Anastasia Vasina, right, smashes in front of China's Xue Chen during the women's beach volleyball preliminary phase

Players get to enjoy a breathtaking view during a practice volleyball session at Horse Guards Parade

China's Zhang Xi waits for the ball at Centre Court of the stadium in Horse Guards Parade during her game with Russia and right, Vasiliki Arvaniti of Greece warms up before a training session at the Beach Volleyball Olympic venue

Businesses in London are getting into the spirit of the Olympic Games. The colourful blooms and patriotic flags covered The Churchill Arms in Notting Hill, west London

Tourists have been flocking to take pictures of the pub which has gone all out to celebrate the Olympics and Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Locals have said the pub is always adorned with flowers but the landlords decided to make it extra special this year

National pride: Flag-waving spectators at the Olympic Park in East London yesterday

The world's largest McDonald's is already proving to be one of the most popular restaurants in the Olympic Park

Thousands of people have been queuing up for a taste of the fast food chain which is already the most popular restaurant

Stunning: Fireworks at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, watched by more than a million people around the globe

Spectacular: Fireworks explode over the roof of the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games

Around 27¿million British viewers watched Friday evening¿s amazing Opening Ceremony

Explosive scenes: Fireworks light the sky over Tower Bridge in London during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Line of fire: The spectacular fireworks finale lights up the sky above and around the Olympic Stadium

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