King And Queen Of England To Declare Commonwealth Games Open

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

Their Majesties, The King and Queen will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday, 23rd July, at The Hydro in Glasgow.

Their Majesties will join athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators from across the Commonwealth to mark the beginning of the XXIII Commonwealth Games, which will see over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports over 11 days.

During the Ceremony, the King will read aloud the message he placed into the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day, 10th March 2025, at Buckingham Palace, when he launched the Relay with Sir Chris Hoy as its first Baton bearer. The reading of the message by His Majesty will mark the moment that Glasgow 2026 is officially declared open.

Sir Chris, one of the nation’s all time most decorated athletes, will also take part in the Opening Ceremony, marking a special moment in the celebration of sport, city and Commonwealth spirit.

Across 500 days, the Baton has visited all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories — the longest relay in the Games’ history — with each nation crafting and decorating its own Baton to reflect its culture and identity.

Alongside its journey, the Relay has carried forward the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign, run in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society, which has brought communities together for coastal clean-ups and awareness events across the Commonwealth in support of its goal to keep a million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters.

In Glasgow, all 74 Batons will be reunited for the first time, and the Scotland Baton, handmade in the city from sustainably sourced ash, will be presented to His Majesty so that the message hidden within it can be read aloud.

Taking place in one of the world’s leading entertainment venues, The Hydro, the Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony it is set to be a stunning show that reflects the city’s warmth, enterprise and pride in welcoming the Commonwealth to Glasgow.

Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medallist and two-time Commonwealth champion, said: “It is an absolute honour to attend the opening of Glasgow 2026 with Their Majesties The King and Queen. A home Games is always a special occasion and I have so many wonderful memories from competing in the Commonwealth Games myself. I have no doubt the city of Glasgow will yet again be a superb host to what promises to be an exciting event; and I very much look forward to being a part of it. The countdown is on!”

Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, said: “We are honoured that Their Majesties The King and Queen will join athletes, fans, delegations and communities from across the Commonwealth for the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026. As the first Commonwealth Games of His Majesty’s reign, and the culmination of the first King’s Baton Relay, it will be a special occasion for everyone involved in the Commonwealth Games.

“Glasgow 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. As athletes from 74 nations and territories come together, the Opening Ceremony will set the tone for a Games that celebrates world-class sport, friendship and the unique ability of the Commonwealth Games to bring people together.”

George Black CBE, Chair of Glasgow 2026, said: “Welcoming Their Majesties The King and Queen to The Hydro is a proud moment for everyone building the Opening Ceremony. We set out to make something bold, unmistakably Glasgow and unlike anything the Commonwealth Games has produced before — and to have Their Majesties there to see it come to life makes it all the more special.”