The Olympic spirit radiated through Windsor Castle on Tuesday as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a special welcome for the Olympic torch at their royal residence. With only 17 days until the Diamond Monarch is set to inaugurate the Games in a grand ceremony at the Olympic Park, the excitement was palpable.
The royal couple joined in the celebrations on Day 53 of the torch's UK relay, witnessing the historic moment in the castle's quadrangle. They watched with pride as 74-year-old Gina Macgregor, undeterred by the day's grey skies and sudden torrential downpour, entered the open space, beaming with the Olympic flame in hand. Despite arriving soaking wet, Mrs. Macgregor, donned in a rain cape and wielding an umbrella, greeted the Queen with a good-humored remark about her appearance, eliciting laughter from the royals.
Accompanied by London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, the Queen and Duke observed the ceremonial 'kiss moment' where Mrs. Macgregor passed the flame to Philip Wells, the next torchbearer in line.
The day's journey for the flame began at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, a site steeped in history where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile barrier in May 1854. The 83-year-old running legend, joined by Lord Coe at the newly named Bannister track, expressed his honor in being part of a list of torchbearers that includes injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
The day's events continued as the flame made its way from Oxford to Henley. Here, Olympian Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist, took the unique step of transporting the torch along the Thames in a rowing boat. With an oar in his right hand and the torch in his left, Redgrave was cheered by thousands of spectators who lined the river, celebrating as he rowed, aiding the flame on its symbolic journey.