The Queen’s Baton has mades its way to Bermuda as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay.

The Relay began its 288-day, 230,000 km journey (which will include 71 Commonwealth nations and territories), at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II placing her message of goodwill in the Baton. It will conclude on 4 April 2018 at the opening ceremony of the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where the Queen’s message will be read.

Thus far, the Baton has travelled through Africa and the Caribbean, with its most recent stop being The Bahamas, coinciding with the Nassau Youth Commonwealth Games which concluded yesterday. The Baton’s tour of Bermuda kicks off the Americas leg of the Relay, which will also see the Baton tour Canada, Belize, Guyana and the Falkland Islands, before heading to Europe.

The Queen’s Baton relay has been the traditional lead up to the “Friendly Games” since it was first established as part of the official programme for Cardiff 1958.