Many of the famous musical artists who performed during Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony did so for a fee of just £1.

Paul McCartney, Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sande were among the individuals to have contributed their time for virtually no payment.

"The top talent basically gave their services for free," a London 2012 spokeswoman told the Agence France-Presse.

"But in order to have a formal contract for their services you have to show an amount, so that was set at a pound, which enables them to have a contractual arrangement."

Sande, 24, told the London Evening Standard: "I got paid a pound for my work. It's there in print, and I know because I signed the contract myself. Mind you, I haven't received anything yet! When I do, though, that pound will be truly special."

Details of the Queen's payment for her starring role in the three-and-a-half-hour spectacular are not yet known.