Royalty teamed up with rock ’n’ roll royalty to welcome our Olympic athletes to Paris yesterday. Princess Anne, 73, who is British Olympic Association president, joined Sir Mick Jagger, 80, at a reception held at the British Ambassador’s residence.

In her speech, Anne – the first British royal to compete at the Olympics in 1976 – told medal hopefuls: “I wish you every bit of success… and also do take the chance to enjoy it.”

Rolling Stone Sir Mick, who chatted and posed for selfies with athletes, said it was “wonderful to meet and support Team GB”. Two past gold medallists – diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover – were confirmed as flag bearers for today’s opening ceremony.

Tom, 30, said his first thoughts were with his father Robert, who died of cancer a year before he won the first of his four medals in 2012. “He would be so incredibly proud, he always considered flag bearers to be Olympic icons and legends,” he said.

Helen, 38, who will be competing in the Women’s Four, described being a flag bearer as “probably the biggest honour of my life”.

She added: “I still pinch myself that I am an Olympian, let alone doing something that I just saw as going down in history.” Meanwhile, Sir Andy Murray was spotted practising yesterday after confirming he will retire after the games.

He has dropped out of the singles but will play in the doubles. Princess Anne is in France for 12 days for the games – a month after being taken to hospital with head injuries after an accident at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. She is thought to have been kicked by a horse.