Queen to host Olympic bid dinner

London's bid team insist the Queen is right behind the bid

The Queen is to host a dinner for the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission when they examine London's bid to host the 2012 Games.

The Queen was criticised last month for allegedly saying Paris would win.

But she and the Duke of Edinburgh will welcome the 13 inspectors to Buckingham Palace next week, along with IOC member the Princess Royal.

It follows the news that Prince William could be offered a role in London's bid delegation for the final vote in July.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told the Evening Standard newspaper the list of bid ambassadors for the trip to Singapore was still to be finalised.

But she said: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if Prince William joined the contingent?

"He and Prince Harry are very keen on sport and took part in the Comic Relief run."

Prince William attended a Buckingham Palace reception for London's 2012 bid last June, where he met London bid leader Sebastian Coe and bid ambassador Sir Steve Redgrave.

Feature: What is the evaluation commission looking for?

The IOC's evaluation commission will arrive in London on 16 February to inspect the city's plans for 2012, and they will visit Buckingham Palace two days later.

They have already spent four days in Madrid, and London's inspection will be followed by trips to rivals New York, Paris and Moscow.

The evaluation commission's report, due out in June, is designed to help the IOC members make up their minds.

But the cities will get a final chance to impress when they make bid presentations directly before the vote in Singapore on 6 July.

Queen's remark denied

It was reported last month that the Queen had tipped Paris to win in a private conversation at a Palace reception, claims which London's bid team denied.

"I cannot reconcile those alleged comments with the unqualified support the Queen has given. The Queen is 100% behind the bid," said Jowell on Wednesday.

Princess Anne is one of the 123 International Olympic Committee members who will decide the host city, although she can only vote if London is eliminated.