The Queen won't be making an appearance at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony next Thursday. The Prince of Wales will represent Her Majesty at the event, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Charles, who will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will deliver a speech during the launch of the global sporting event, hosted in Birmingham. He will also read a message from the Queen put in the Commonwealth Games Baton, which has been carried to all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth during a 294-day journey.
Members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Royal and Earl and Countess of Wessex, will attend events celebrating the games, meeting competitors, volunteers and support staff, visiting venues and attending sporting fixtures.
Read more: Leave a message of support for Team England in The Commonwealth Games
During a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda last month, Charles said he is looking forward to visiting the games. He said: “In a world currently riven by conflict and division, these Games – so aptly called ‘the friendly games’ – stand as a shining celebration of our unity, our diversity and our pursuit of shared excellence.”
The Commonwealth Games will see more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations compete at Alexander Stadium from Thursday July 28 to Monday 8 August.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Queen carried on with her royal duties during the heatwave despite the UK facing its hottest day on record. The monarch, 96, welcomed the new US ambassador Jane Hartley from the safety of inside Windsor Castle during the virtual audience on Tuesday.
As the country sweltered in the extreme temperatures which exceeded 40C for the first time, the nation’s longest reigning monarch wore a floral summer dress as she chatted on screen with the American diplomat, who presented her credentials at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen, who was seated in her Oak Room sitting room at Windsor, has in the past been pictured with a Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link purifier fan at the Palace, and is also likely to also have one at her Berkshire castle.
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