London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony - in pictures

Bradley Wiggins, the first British winner of the Tour De France, rings the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to signal the start of the ceremony Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

Artists perform with geese in the British meadow scene Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Performers in period costume walk with their umbrellas Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

A maypole features in the opening segment of the performance Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Actor Kenneth Branagh as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, reading an excerpt from Shakespeare's Tempest Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Performers play drums during the ceremony Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

During the age of industry scene, towers rose from the ground and the Olympic rings were forged Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Dame Evelyn Glennie was among several famous performers to appear during the event Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

A scene from the portion of the show representing the industrial revolution Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The Olympic rings are hoisted into the sky Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Spectators cover up as rain falls in the stadium during a pre-show performance Photograph: Dennis M. Sabangan/EPA

An actor dressed to resemble the Queen parachutes from a helicopter over the stadium Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Performers dance in a scene paying tribute to Great Ormond Street hospital Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr Bean, taking part in a performance of Chariots of Fire Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Members of the audience during the opening ceremony Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Artists perform during the opening ceremony Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Performers in the Olympic Stadium Photograph: Dennis M. Sabangan/EPA

General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The Queen, Princess Anne and David Cameron arrive for the ceremony Photograph: John Stillwell/PA

Performers in the role of Mary Poppins float inside the stadium Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named 'Max Power' which carries the Olympic torch Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

Fireworks around the Olympic Stadium Photograph: HANNIBAL/EPA

Team GB's arrival was greeted with a shower of confetti Photograph: Craig Hibbert/NOPP

The Olympic cauldron rises into position during the opening ceremony Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP