Olympians get shock visit by Queen

Queen Elizabeth II meets Kiwi athlete Nick Willis and other members of the New Zealand Olympic team as she tours the Athletes Village dining hall at Olympic Park in London. Photo / AP

Three New Zealand Olympians have been treated to a Royal visit at Olympic Village.

Alexis Pritchard, Richie Patterson and Nick Willis were asked to don their best outfits for a surprise encounter with the Queen.

Athletes from 10 Commonwealth nations were invited to a special meeting with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Princess Anne.

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Chef de Mission Dave Currie said she had done her homework and knew the athletes, congratulating Nick Willis on being named flag bearer.

"She was just wonderful," he said.

"Impressively, she'd only returned to the palace at 2am following the Opening Ceremony and had that morning already been to watch the swimming competition and to meet Team GB.

"That's not bad for someone who is 86 years old."

He said Princess Anne was more casual and "even helped herself to a tray of food in the athletes dining hall".

Currie said the Queen spent more time with the Kiwis than with other teams.

"We showed respect for Her Majesty and dressed accordingly in our formal uniform. She certainly spent more time with the New Zealand athletes than the others."

The meeting took place in the Athletes Village dining hall at Olympic Park.

Pritchard is competing in Olympics boxing, Patterson is a weightlifter and Willis is a middle distance runner.

- Newstalk ZB with Herald online