The Royal Family posted a video of the King, Queen and Duke of Edinburgh meeting Finnie, the official mascot of Glasgow 2026, before the ceremony began, along with Baton Bearers who helped carry the spirit of the Games across the Commonwealth.
King Charles and Queen Camilla delivered a memorable royal arrival at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, stepping out of the iconic Doctor Who Tardis in a nod to Scottish culture and a famous royal tradition.
The King and Queen “traveled” from Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow’s Hydro arena aboard the legendary blue police box before being met by cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh.
The opening show celebrated Scotland’s creativity and identity, with performances from local favourites, including wrestler Grado, who appeared in a teacake costume alongside the colorful presence of mascot Finnie.
Its design was inspired by a real police box created by Scottish architect Gilbert Mackenzie Trench in 1929.
The creative opening sequence saw the Tardis travel across Scotland, visiting famous landmarks before arriving into the packed arena.
The time machine was piloted by Sir Chris Hoy, who later described sharing the moment with the King as a surreal experience.
It replicated the late Queen Elizabeth II’s unforgettable James Bond performance with Daniel Craig during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
After emerging from the Tardis, Charles and Camilla made their way to the royal box where they watched the celebrations marking the start of 11 days of competition involving more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories.
The King later formally declared the XXIII Commonwealth Games open in his role as Head of Commonwealth, the ceremonial head of the 56-member association.
