The 2022 Commonwealth
Games are almost upon us and are a sporting highlight in the royal
family’s calendar.
While the Queen will not
be making an appearance at this year’s tournament, which runs from 28 July
to 8 August, due to her mobility issues, other members of The Firm will be
stepping out to show their support.
Buckingham Palace has
confirmed that the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess
Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will visit the sporting venues,
attend a range of fixtures, and meet athletes, volunteers and support staff
helping at the Games.
The royals will also attend
events and engagements in celebration of the Games, such as the opening and
closing ceremonies, and pre-ceremony receptions.
Thursday
28 July
Prince Charles, accompanied by
his wife Camilla, will represent the Queen at the opening ceremony at the
Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Thursday 28 July.
The future King will deliver a
speech, part of which will include the Queen’s message which was placed into
the Commonwealth Games Baton by Her Majesty in October 2021 at Buckingham
Palace, before departing on its 294-day journey to all 72 nations and
territories of the Commonwealth.
Prince Edward, in his role as
Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, will attend the opening
ceremony with his wife Sophie.
Friday
29 July
Prince Edward, who has
attended every Commonwealth Games since Edinburgh 1986 and was made Vice-Patron
in 1990, will attend a series of sporting events throughout the day with his
wife Sophie.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne,
accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, will visit the
Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village at Warwick University. The Queen’s
only daughter will meet athletes from across the Commonwealth, including those
who will take part in rugby, judo, wrestling and lawn bowls fixtures, before
meeting Commonwealth Games volunteers.
She will then attend the Rugby
Sevens at Coventry Stadium, watching a total of four matches including England
vs Samoa.
Saturday
30 July
The Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester will attend Commonwealth Games Cycling events at the Lee Valley
Velopark, London on Saturday evening. The couple will watch the Men’s 4000m
Individual Pursuit and present the winning athletes with their medals.
Monday
1 August
Prince Edward and Sophie will
return to Birmingham to attend various fixtures of the Commonwealth Games from
Monday 1 August to Wednesday 3 August.
Tuesday
2 August
Prince William and Kate will
make one appearance during the Commonwealth Games, joining Edward and Sophie
for events on Tuesday 2 August.
Saturday
6 to Monday 8 August
Prince Edward will attend a
series of fixtures at the Commonwealth Games, as well as meet and thank
volunteers and support staff involved in delivering the Games.
He will then attend the
closing ceremony on Monday 8 August where he will give a speech to celebrate
the conclusion of the games, and attend the pre-ceremony reception.
