Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

Published

The Commonwealth Games bring nations together every four years in a colourful celebration of sport and human performance featuring over 5,000 sports men and women from across 72 nations and territories.

Underpinned by the core values of humanity, equality and destiny, the Games, often referred to as the ‘Friendly Games’, aim to unite the Commonwealth family through a glorious festival of sport.

Her Majesty The Queen has been Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation since 1952. However, this year The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall represented Her Majesty on the opening day in Birmingham, United Kingdom. 

The Athletes Village

The Prince of Wales visits the Athletes Village



To commence the day’s engagements, The Prince of Wales visited the Athletes Village at The University of Birmingham, which will be home to 3,500 athletes and officials for the duration of the Games. During his tour of the Village, His Royal Highness met Games representatives, volunteers and 122 athletes from 61 teams, even taking time to pose for selfies with some of them.



Birmingham Festival, Victoria Square

His Royal Highness then travelled to Vitoria Square, Birmingham, one of a number of sites hosting the Birmingham Festival, a six-month celebration of arts, music, food and culture, that is set to attract 2.5 million people. Victoria Square will be showcasing over 150 of the region’s best musicians, with food and drink provided by some of Birmingham’s most exciting businesses, like Asha’s, an award-wining restaurant that has prepared dishes for Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. The Prince spent time meeting performers and the public, many of whom had travelled from around the world to enjoy the Games. The Festival Site also features artwork by Birmingham-based artist Anjuli McKenna, created with paint that doesn’t create any chemicals.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Reception

The Prince of Wales, along with The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games, attended the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Reception, where they met with visiting Heads of State and Government and with Presidents and Secretaries General from the various Commonwealth Games federations.



Opening Ceremony



The final and main event of the day was the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, where The Prince of Wales, accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall, represented Her Majesty The Queen.

The Prince and The Duchess entered the stadium in The Prince’s modified Aston Martin, which runs on a by-product of wine and cheese.

 

Red Arrows fly over Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony



Their Royal Highnesses were joined by 72 other red, white and blue cars, linked to Birmingham's car industry, that formed the Union Jack flag. This was followed by the Red Arrows flying over the Alexander Stadium adding more even more red, white and blue colour to the event with their smoke trails.

Team England enter the stadium as host nation of the Commonwealth Games





Following a spectacle of dance, drama and music, including a large mechanical bull, along with the traditional athletes’ parade, the Baton arrived at the stadium. The Queen’s Baton Relay left Buckingham Palace on October 7th 2021, containing a message from Her Majesty inside it, and travelled to all corners of the Commonwealth.

"Tonight, in the words of the founder of the Games, we embark once again on a novel adventure here in Birmingham, a pioneering city which has drawn in and embraced so many throughout its history. It is a city symbolic of the rich diversity and unity of the Commonwealth, and one which now welcomes you all in friendship.”

Read Her Majesty's letter in full

 

The Prince of Wales reads a letter from The Queen



The Prince of Wales read the message from The Queen and officially declared the Commonwealth Games ‘open’, commencing 11 days of competition that will see over 5,000 athletes from 72 nations compete in 280 events across 19 sports.  

Related content

News

Royal Maundy 2025

17 April 2025
The King and Queen at the Maundy Service in Durham

A message from The King to mark Easter

There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.

17 April 2025

The King’s speech at the State Banquet at the Quirinale Palace, Italy

It is also moving to think that my great, great grandfather, King Edward VII, and my great-grandfather, King George V, both spoke at State Banquets in this very Palace over a...

09 April 2025

The King delivers an address to the Italian Parliament

It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a...

09 April 2025

The King's message to the regional media industry in the UK

Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share.

27 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to mark the launch of The Queen’s Reading Room Medal

Making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room. We believe that books make for a happier, healthier and more connected society.

26 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to celebrate the 15th anniversary of WOW (Women of the World)

Without fail, wherever WOW gathers, I have met the most extraordinary and impressive women who have, quite simply, refused to take ‘no’ for an answer.

11 March 2025
News

Commonwealth Day 2025

10 March 2025
Commonwealth flags

A speech delivered by The King during a visit to HMS Prince of Wales whilst at sea

I can only say that I take immense pride in you - the men and women who bring this vessel to life with such indomitable spirit - for your vital service on behalf of us all.

04 March 2025

The King's Commonwealth Day Message 2025

The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.

09 March 2025
News

The King visits Staffordshire

24 February 2025
The King visits Tower Brewery
News

The Queen visits Exeter

06 February 2025
The Queen visits Exeter
Press release 07 February 2025

The King and Queen will visit the Holy See and Italy

Read more

A speech by His Majesty The King to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

As the number of Holocaust Survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of...

27 January 2025