Baton relay begins in London for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Baton will travel across all 72 Commonwealth nations
Last updated 26th Jul 2022
The Queen's Baton Relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games began this morning in London.
Handing the Baton to Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox was the Queen's first major engagement at Buckingham Palace since before the pandemic began.
The Baton, with the Queens message to the Commonwealth inside, will travel 90,000 miles across 72 nations.
It will travel for 294 days, connecting different cultures and communities within the Commonwealth, before returning to Birmingham for the opening ceremony next year.
Over the course of the Relay, the Baton will spend Christmas Eve in the Seychelles, New Year in the Maldives and will be in Jamaica over the Easter weekend.
Over 7,500 Batonbearers will be trusted with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Baton in their community.
Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: "The Baton is a message to all the athletes in the Commonwealth - her Majesty is asking you to come so please make sure you do."
"Even now my knees are shaking talking about it because this is the start of the games, this actually starts the excitement building.
That’s the lovely part of this - the messages to the athletes of the Commonwealth. Come, compete, enjoy, make friends, go back home again and be proud of what you do.”