Dame Helen Mirren meets the troops

Dame Helen Mirren surprised a group of soldiers in London over the weekend, applauding them for their work at the 2012 Olympics.

Troops were drafted in to assist security guards at Games' venues in the capital, and The Queen star was full of praise for their efforts when she met them at an event in Wapping, where she lives.

She says, "As a resident, I have loved having the troops here. It has been great to see Tobacco Dock full of people and we have felt so close to what was happening in the Olympic park. It has been a very special event."

The London sporting extravaganza officially ended on Sunday with a star-studded concert, featuring stars including the Spice Girls, The Who and One Direction.