In her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, The Queen will open the Games in Glasgow at the Opening Ceremony on July 23, where she will be accompanied by her husband The Duke of Edinburgh.

This marks her first appearance at a Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony since Melbourne 2006, after the Delhi 2010 version was opened in her absence by her son The Prince of Wales. 

The Prince will also be present at Celtic Park this time around, along with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall and The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Commonwealth Games sites on July 23, while The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will all attend the Games between July 28 and 29. 

Although there is a Royal presence at every Commonwealth Games, the particularly large delegation in Glasgow - also including one of the four British members of the International Olympic Committee, Princess Anne - seems particularly apt considering the Games fall shortly before the Independence Referendum taking place on September 18. 

The Queen's grandson Prince Harry, pictured during London 2012, will also be present in Glasgow ©Getty Images



There has already been much speculation that the Games could be overshadowed by campaigning by each side, and the hefty Royal presence could be interpreted as a means to convince the Scottish public to maintain their ties with London.

But speaking to insidethegames today, Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg insisted it has "little to do with the referendum", and that it marks an extension of the long track record of the Royal Family in supporting and attending great sporting events.

In a statement, Grevemberg added: "We are delighted that Her Majesty the Queen will be attending the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and will read the message to athletes which she placed in the baton that will have travelled 190,000km through 70 nations and territories before it arrives at Celtic Park".