King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Attend Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday, 23 July, at The Hydro, marking the official start of the XXIII Commonwealth Games.

The King and Queen will join thousands of athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators from across the Commonwealth as Glasgow welcomes more than 3,000 athletes representing 74 nations and territories. Over the course of 11 days, competitors will battle for 215 gold medals across 10 sports, celebrating sporting excellence and the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth.

A defining moment of the Opening Ceremony will see King Charles III read aloud the message he placed inside the King’s Baton on Commonwealth Day, 10 March 2025, at Buckingham Palace, when he officially launched the King’s Baton Relay with legendary cyclist Sir Chris Hoy serving as the relay’s first baton bearer. The reading of the message will formally declare the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games open.

Sir Chris Hoy, one of Britain’s most decorated athletes and a six-time Olympic gold medallist, will also play a special role in the ceremony, adding to what organisers describe as a celebration of sport, Glasgow and the Commonwealth.

The King’s Baton Relay has completed an unprecedented 500-day journey across all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, making it the longest relay in Commonwealth Games history. Each participating nation and territory created and decorated its own Baton to reflect its unique culture, heritage and identity.

Throughout its journey, the Relay also promoted the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign, delivered in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society. The initiative has united communities through coastal clean-up campaigns and environmental awareness events with the aim of preventing one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters.

For the first time, all 74 Batons will be brought together in Glasgow. The specially crafted Scotland Baton, handmade in the city using sustainably sourced ash wood, will be presented to His Majesty so that the message concealed within can be revealed during the Opening Ceremony.

Hosted at The Hydro, one of the world’s leading entertainment venues, organisers promise a spectacular production showcasing Glasgow’s warmth, creativity, innovation and pride as it welcomes the Commonwealth to Scotland.

Speaking ahead of the Games, Sir Chris Hoy said it was “an absolute honour” to attend the Opening Ceremony alongside Their Majesties.

“A home Games is always a special occasion and I have so many wonderful memories from competing in the Commonwealth Games myself,” Hoy said.

“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 the Opening Ceremony would mark a historic milestone as the first Commonwealth Games held during King Charles III’s reign and the culmination of the inaugural King’s Baton Relay.

“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,” he said.

“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, described the royal attendance as a significant moment for the event.

“Welcoming Their Majesties The King and Queen to The Hydro is a proud moment for everyone building the Opening Ceremony,” he said.

“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.”

Organisers have confirmed that further details regarding the engagements of Their Majesties and Sir Chris Hoy during the Opening Ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are expected to bring together athletes and fans from across the Commonwealth in a celebration of sporting excellence, friendship and unity, with the Opening Ceremony set to provide a memorable start to one of the world’s premier multi-sport events.