A spokeswoman at Clarence House, Charles's official London residence, said both the President and the Prince would play a role but insisted that Charles would formally open the Games as the official stand-in for his mother, who is the head of the Commonwealth.

"We cannot be specific about the choreography but the Prince will read out the Queen's baton message, ending by declaring the Games open," it said in a statement released in London today.

"There is no row.

"Both the Prince of Wales and the President of India will have a prominent role in the opening ceremony in Delhi.

"The Queen has asked the Prince of Wales to represent her at the opening of the Commonwealth Games."

It is the first time that the Queen has not attended the Commonwealth Games since Kingston in 1966.

Buckingham Palace claimed that the pressure of the Queen's schedule meant she was unable to attend.

It is believed that Patil will make a speech after Charles has declared the Games opened.

"Let the Games begin," is the line Patil will state signalling the start of the event.

Similar procotol had been observed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur when the King of Malaysia inaugurated the event.

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