Queen’s Baton Relay comes to Essex
It's travelling around the country
Last updated 8th Jul 2022
The Queen's Baton Relay has come to Essex this morning.
It's part of the build up to the Commonwealth Games which are taking place in Birmingham later this month.
Carrying a message from the Queen, the baton arrived in Tilbury via the London Cruise Terminal just after 8:30AM this morning.
After a stop in Tilbury it then travelled to Basildon and Southend, where it was carried along the high street to Southend Pier - the longest pleasure pier in the world - at around 11:20am.
The baton was then be taken to Maldon, to be greeted with a community wellbeing festival at Promenade Park complete with music and entertainment.
Watch: The Baton in Southend
Where's the baton going next?
After a visit to Essex, the baton will be taken to Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk to continue its 294 day journey, which began on 7th October 2021 at Buckingham Palace.
Throughout the whole relay, more than 180 communities in England will experience the Queen’s Baton on a route spanning 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres).
By the end of its tour, the baton will have visited all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before arriving in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
During the ceremony, which takes place on 28th July 2022, the Queen's message, from inside the baton, will be read out.