THE QUEEN was accused last night of undermining London’s Olympic bid by saying that she thought Paris rather than her own capital would win the right to host the 2012 Games.

In a private conversation during a Buckingham Palace reception last month, the Queen reportedly ventured the opinion that Parisians were more committed to their bid than Londoners were and that when the IOC made its choice of venue, Paris would win.

Palace officials could not confirm the Queen’s alleged remarks, saying that it was impossible to verify the thousands of private conversations she held every year.

Both the Palace and 2012 bid officials sought to dismiss any suggestion that the head of state was not in full support of London’s application, but the Queen’s reported view will be seen as yet another pothole on the city’s bumpy journey towards securing the Games.

The unpatriotic opinion from a usually careful monarch was delivered at a Christmas reception for 500 guests, chosen for their outstanding contributions to civic life during the year.

The Queen spent more than two hours chatting with the nominees. Eager to have a conversation, Amran Hussain, a schoolboy from East London, asked the Queen what she thought about a possible Olympics in East London. “I asked her what her views were on the Olympic bid and she said, ‘Oh, I think that Paris has the best chance of winnning’,” he said.

According to Hussain, the Queen said: “I don’t think the public in this country support it like the public in Paris do.”

For Hussain, 19, who lives with his mother, sister and two brothers in Beckton, the Games would make a huge difference. “It would bring jobs, status and a lot of improvements to roads and buildings,” he said. “It would be fun to have the biggest show in the world in our borough. All the boroughs that are involved are very poor and need improvements. I think London’s bid would have a bigger chance if she was backing it more publicly.”

Last summer the Queen held a reception for those involved in London’s bid. A Palace spokeswoman said yesterday: “We cannot say specifically that the Queen supports the bid, because there is a political element to it. But it is significant that, in a busy schedule, she found time to hold a reception for those involved.”

Mike Lee, spokesman for the London 2012 bid, said: “The reported remarks do not fit with the support we have had from the Queen and the Royal Family. They have been very encouraging and we are in talks about further participation.”

Public support for the bid was at its highest, Lee said, with 75 per cent of Britons, and Londoners, in favour. Whatever doubts the Queen may hold about the likely success of London’s bid, key members of her family are firmly behind it. The Princess Royal, as well as being one of Britain’s two members on the IOC, is on the board of London 2012, the company behind the bid.

Prince William showed his support by attending last summer’s Palace reception for the bid team; there is speculation that he may become further involved later this year.

Richard Caborn, the Sports Minister, said that the Queen was probably right to see Paris as favourite in December but that London was now “closing the gap”. “All the opinion polls we are doing show there’s considerable support for the bid. I’m sure when the Queen looks at the figures now she will be pleasantly surprised to see that Britons are behind the bid,” he said.

The Paris 2012 bid team refused to comment on the alleged remarks.