Olympic stars at the Palace

10:30 pm, Tue 23 Oct 2012

The Queen engages in Royal banter

As The Queen greeted politicians at this evening's reception for Olympic medalists she cracked a joke about Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

After shaking hands with Sports Minister Hugh Robertson (second from left), the quick-witted monarch moves on to greet Mr Hunt and quips back at Mr Robertson, "He keeps changing his job!"

Jeremy Hunt was previously Culture Minister and was appointed as Health Secretary last month.

9:50 pm, Tue 23 Oct 2012

Swimmer Rebecca Adlington says 'friends are jealous' at Palace invite

Gold medalist Nicola Adams excited at entering Buckingham Palace

9:29 pm, Tue 23 Oct 2012

Olympic medalists get Royal date at Buckingham Palace

The Queen and Philip met Prime Minister David Cameron, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt - formerly Culture Secretary - and other senior figures who made the Games possible, including Lord Coe, former chair of London 2012, in the Palace's 18th Century Room.

I think people will look back and just think, 'what an incredible summer' - success after success, medal after medal and the whole country putting on its very best face for the world.

What matters now is that we maximise the momentum and the legacy following the Olympics and Paralympics.

We had a cabinet meeting about that today and Seb Coe was there, and we were talking about the physical legacy of East London, the important economic benefits we want, there's the sporting legacy carried through to Rio and school sport, there's also the legacy in terms of attitude to disabilities, which I think is a real chance of a step change in our country.

– David Cameron

9:12 pm, Tue 23 Oct 2012

Buckingham Palace hosts reception for London 2012 stars

Olympic and Paralympic heroes were celebrated tonight at a glitteringBuckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen and attended by the Duchess of Cambridge and David Cameron.

Sportsmen and women who won gold were invited to the palace to mark their achievements.