The Queen’s Baton Relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games began this morning with a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The Relay began once Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.
In the ceremony the Queen then entrusted the baton to the first relay runner, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay.
At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games.
The Baton will now travel for 294 days, connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories.
The Baton has been specially created by designers and technologists from the West Midlands in a unique collaboration that fuses science, technology, engineering and art.
The shape of the Baton moves away from the traditional shape seen in previous editions of The Queen’s Baton.
With Birmingham 2022 making history by being the first major multi-sport event to award more medals to women than men, the strength and fortitude of women across the Commonwealth is celebrated throughout the design of the Baton.
The Tri-Service Massed Bands are made up of the Band of HM Royal Marines Collingwood, British Army Band Sandhurst and the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment.
