King’s baton relay for Glasgow Commonwealth Games kicks off in London
The King’s Baton Relay for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games will begin today.
It is 500 days until the games begin in July next year, and Sir Chris Hoy will be the first to hold the baton on its journey around the Commonwealth nations.
At the end of the relay, a message from his majesty inside the baton will be extracted and read aloud at the opening of the tournament on July 23.
The first destination for the baton is Trinidad and Tobago, but by the end of the relay it will have touched the soil of all the Commonwealth nations.
Falling on Commonwealth Day, the beginning of the relay in London will be part of the days celebrations, and marks King Charles’ first year as head of the Commonwealth.
In a speech published in full today, the King called for unity and the building of bridges in a time of uncertainty surrounding growing unease in international relationships.
First Minister John Swinney will be in London to attend the celebrations ahead of the competition coming to his country.
Glasgow was unveiled as host of the 2026 Commonwealth games after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew over cost issues.
