Children and youngsters bearing flags from 70 nations and territories will line the forecourt, while Gold Coast singer Cody Simpson will perform.
Today’s a big day at Commonwealth Games England HQ! 
 
Commonwealth Day marks the start of the Queen’s Baton Relay from Buckingham Palace for next year’s 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games! 
 
The Baton, carrying a special message from The Queen, will set of on a 388-day, 230,000km journey to the Gold Coast after a grand ceremony at the grounds of
Buckingham Palace. 
 
Commonwealth Games England Sports Director Don Parker, CEO Paul Blanchard, Chairman Ian Metcalfe and Operations Director Louise Bell (pictured below) join the Royal Family at the Palace, along with Team England Athlete Ambassadors Aimee Willmott and Paul Brown. 
 
 
 
Aimee Willmott is live tweeting for us, so keep up to date with the celebrations by following Aimee and Team England on Twitter!  
 
The Queen will see the Baton off on a tour of all 70 Commonwealth nations including Africa, the Americas, Carribbean, Oceania, Asia and Europe before spending its final 100 days in Australia. 
 
The Baton’s first stop after leaving Buckingham Palace is due to be Sierra Leone, and England will host the Baton between 16-22 August 2017.
 
The special message from the Queen inside the Baton will be read out at the Gold Coast Games Opening Ceremony on April 4 next year. 
 

The facts

 

 

  • - Started at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff
     
  • - 52 countries in the Commonwealth celebrate Commonwealth Day
     
  • - Commonwealth Day is always held on the second Monday in March every year. 
     
  • - It provides an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of Commonwealth organisations, including the Commonwealth Games Federation. 
     
  • - Each year has a theme – the theme for 2017 is “A Peace-building Commonwealth”. (Click here for more info)
Keep up to date with the celebrations on Twitter by following the #CommonwealthDay and #Commonwealth4Peace hashtag. 
 
Don’t forget to follow us at @TeamEngland too! 
 
The Relay will begin with a grand ceremony held to coincide with Commonwealth Day on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace before the Baton, carrying a special message from The Queen, will set off on a 388-day, 230,000 kilometres journey to the Gold Coast.
 
The Queen, her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and their son Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, will send the Baton on its way for a tour of all 70 Commonwealth nations and territories in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Oceania, Asia and Europe before it arrives to spend the final 100 days in Australia.
 
The message The Queen places in the Baton will be read out at the Opening Ceremony of Gold Coast 2018 on April 4.
 
The Queen's Baton Relay, a tradition started for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, is also due to make an appearance at an interfaith service at Westminster Abbey attended by The Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.