Queen Elizabeth II launches Commonwealth Games baton relay

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during the Commonwealth Games
Baton Relay. Image: Reuters @Scottish Express

 

Queen Elizabeth II has officially launched the Commonwealth Games relay with a secret message placed inside the baton. According to the Telegraph, the queen's message was written while she was on holiday at Balmoral.

The baton will tour the Commonwealth nations and will be unveiled to athletes when it arrives in Glasgow next year for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, reports MailOnline. Sir Chris Hoy brough the ceremonial object to Buckingham Palace. After tucking the message in, the queen handed the baton over as it embarks on a 120,000-journey beginning with India.

Scottish Express noted that the event was the first time that the queen and Prince Philip appeared  "on joint public duty... together for the first time since Philip’s recovery from surgery."