King Charles and Queen Camilla emerged from a Tardis at the start of a spectacular Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow.
The royal couple drew gasps and cheers from the audience at the Hydro as they appeared on a stage that had been turned into a giant garden.
Flags from 74 nations and territories were carried into the arena during the event, which also featured the Loch Ness monster and performances from Nathan Evans, Tom Walker and KT Tunstall.
The show celebrated the story of Glasgow – from its industrial past to its vibrant nigh life – ahead of a Games that will see 215 medals awarded across 10 sports.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth were among the dignitaries in the royal box for a show that lasted two hours and 20 minutes.
Glasgow, which hosted the event in 2014, stepped in to stage it for a second time after the Australian city of Victoria pulled out due to soaring costs.
Although on a smaller scale to previous editions, the 23rd Games will see a record 47 para-sports events.
In a spectacular opening scene, six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh emerged from the Tardis to cheers before they were, to the audience’s surprise, followed by the King and Queen.
It is not the first time a monarch has made a memorable entrance to a major sporting event’s opening ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth II famously took part in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, appearing to skydive into the stadium from a helicopter with James Bond actor Daniel Craig, after he escorted her from Buckingham Palace.
After the royal couple took their seats an 18-strong Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus entered, stood among the garden paths, and sang God Save The King.
Then, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the athletes took centre stage by parading into the arena before the ceremony fully got under way.
The African nations led the way with Botswana the first to enter the Hydro.
The segment was titled Ceud Míle Fáilte – Scottish-Gaelic for “a hundred thousand welcomes”.
This year there was no baton relay across the Commonwealth but each of the 74 nations and territories was given a wooden baton to decorate.
As they entered, the team’s baton bearer handed the baton to one of three gardeners on stage.
It is was then planted on stage to create a colourful garden.
The soundtrack, by Skye-based Valstos, fused trad and electronic music and mixed in samples from the country’s musical traditions.
Organisers said it was designed to be “a symbol of common ground, bringing a piece of every nation and territory into a shared celebration of the natural world that connects us all.”
The last baton was brought in by Team Scotland, who received the loudest cheer of the night as they were led in by Alex Marshall – who has won five Commonwealth gold medals in bowls – and judo champion Sarah Adlington.
After the parade, a piper appeared in a spotlight and played a single note.
The Loch Ness monster appeared on screen before being magically coaxed on to the stage by Outlander star Sam Heughan.
Pipers and drummers, including in the upper decks of the arena, delivered a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland.
The focus then switched to a day in the life of the host city, with a dance section featuring the famous Glasgow Central Station clock.
People mimicked the 10 sports that will be played during the Games.
Nathan Evans – who shot to fame with his sea shanty Wellerman in 2021 – entered and began to sing with the Saint PHNX Band.
The song took over the station scene like a flash mob and unleashed the joy of its message: Scotland is a place called home.
Three city guides then told the story of Glasgow, using staging inspired by Scotland’s pioneering textile industry and the River Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage.
The city’s legendary nightlife was celebrated with a section that paid tribute to venues such as the Barrowland Ballroom and the Sub Club.
Singer Callum Beattie then appeared – flanked by dancing silver unicorns and stars – and sang Scotland’s unofficial football anthem, Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Baccara.
Team Scotland got to their feet and soon athletes from every nation were showing off their best dance moves in a moment to remember.
The mood became more sombre as the Commonwealth Sport flag was raised after a procession involving members of the armed forces.
Three Team Scotland representatives – Paul Foster (bowls), Robyn Love (3×3 Wheelchair Basketball) and former athletics manager Leslie Roy – then took the Commonwealth oath.
Dr Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, told the audience the “extraordinary legacy” of Glasgow 2014 had made the “reimagined Games” possible.
The Ugandan – who was wearing a Wallace tartan kilt in his country’s colours – thanked those who had made the multi-sports event possible.
He added: “For the next 11 days, 74 nations and territories, thousands of athletes and supporters, and countless cultures and stories come together, united by one simple idea: that sport has the power to bring people together.
“In a world that can sometimes feel divided, that matters more than ever.”
George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, said the city made “extraordinary things happen”.
He told the audience: “When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn’t ask, ‘Can we?’ We asked, ‘When do we get started?'”
Black concluded by telling the assembled athletes: “This is your time.”
After the speeches, a choir hummed a stripped-back arrangement of The Proclaimers’ anthem I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) as footage of the King’s Baton Relay was shown on the giant screen.
Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt performed an acoustic version of the famous track as phones lit up the arena.
The King’s Baton was then paraded around the Hydro by swimmer Hannah Miley and para-cycling great Neil Fachie.
The baton was finally passed to professional basketball player Kieron Achara, who handed it to the King.
The monarch then removed a message he had placed in the baton in March last year – 500 days before the start of the Games.
King Charles said a key theme of the relay had been raising awareness of plastic pollution and the damage it causes to marine life.
He told the audience: “I extend my warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow, all the athletes, organisers, volunteers and all those who have made this event possible.”
The final chapter of the ceremony featured a rousing musical section, which was kicked off by Tom Walker singing his international hit Leave the Light On.
Scotland’s own KT Tunstall then performed two of her greatest hits, Black Horse & the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See.
In between, she channelled the energy of the Tartan Army from the World Cup by leading the crowd in a a chant of “No Scotland No Party”.
Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX Band then replayed the beat of their hit Home, as they returned to the stage.
The finale involved a giant pyrotechnic Teacake taking off from the centre of the stage.
This was a nod to the dancing Teacakes which provided one of the most memorable moments of the 2014 opening ceremony at Celtic Park.
As one of the biggest global gatherings the city has seen came to end, it was impossible not to feel uplifted.
The hope for these Games is that the best is yet to come.
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