By Nick Butler

Prince William arriving for his special appearance at the Glasgow 2014 Wrap Party ©Glasgow 2014The Duke of Cambridge has personally thanked Glasgow 2014 staff for delivering the "best ever" Commonwealth Games when making a surprise guest of honour appearance at a special wrap party.


The second in line to the throne, who attended several days of the Games along with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge and brother, Prince Harry, late last month, took to the stage in Glasgow's Merchant Square to tell the 1500 guests it was a "huge honour" to join them to celebrate a "job well done".

"When Catherine, Harry and I visited last week we saw the slogan People Make Glasgow, it was written all over the city," he said. 

"You epitomise that slogan in the way that you ran the Games - with professionalism and great care, allowing the Games' friendliness to shine through.

"These were undoubtedly the best ever Commonwealth Games in history and you guys made it that way.

"You have helped to deliver a triumph."

The Duke, part of a particularly large royal presence in Glasgow which also included his Grandmother, The Queen, for the Opening Ceremony, added that "it meant an awful lot to the Queen that the Commonwealth Games, which are so dear to her, were in safe hands".

"Thank you for your dedication, your professionalism and most importantly for all you've done for the Commonwealth Games," he added.

"I know that the people of Glasgow and the country thank you also."

The Duke of Cambridge meeting Glasgow 2014 staff during the party ©Glasgow 2014The Duke of Cambridge meeting Glasgow 2014 staff during the party ©Glasgow 2014








He then took time to chat with hundreds of people at the event before joining the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith, who turns 70 tomorrow, as a cake was cut on the stage.

Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg, who is due to take up a new post as chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation later this year, was also present at the party, telling those present they had "created history" during the Games.

"We set out to be trustworthy, we were trusted," he said. 

"We set out to raise the bar, we certainly raised it - I think we raised the roof.

"We set out to win together, we did it all along the way.

"We delivered, we delivered to plan and we delivered beyond our expectations."