King and Queen emerge from Tardis to open Glasgow Commonwealth Games - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reported that King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a surprise entrance from a Tardis during the ceremony at the Hydro. The royal couple appeared after Sir Chris Hoy, prompting a loud reaction from the crowd, before taking their seats as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus performed the national anthem.

The ceremony featured delegations from 74 nations and territories, with athletes parading into the arena early in the programme for the first time in Games history, according to the BBC. Team Scotland, led by bowls champion Alex Marshall and judo champion Sarah Adlington, received a major ovation. The event also included a new baton format in place of the traditional relay, with each team bringing a decorated wooden baton that was “planted” as part of a shared garden theme.

The show drew heavily on Scottish and Glasgow imagery, including the Loch Ness monster, Glasgow Central Station, the River Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage and the city’s nightlife. Performers included Nathan Evans, Tom Walker, KT Tunstall, Nina Nesbitt and Callum Beattie, while Outlander actor Sam Heughan appeared in the Nessie segment.

BBC News said Glasgow is hosting the Games again after Victoria, Australia, withdrew over rising costs. The edition is smaller than some previous Games, with medals to be awarded across 10 sports, but includes a record 47 para-sport events. Commonwealth Sport president Dr Donald Rukare described Glasgow 2014’s legacy as central to making the reworked event possible.