The 20th Commonwealth Games opened in style in Glasgow on Wednesday evening – with a spectacular ceremony featuring fireworks, 41 Scottish terriers, a giant haggis, golf glubs, and a performance from Rod Stewart.
There was one slight hitch, however, when Prince Imran – the president of the Games – struggled to retrieve the Queen's speech from the baton in which it was sealed after the monarch wrote it almost a year ago.
Her Majesty looked highly amused as Prince Imran, who hails from Malaysia – fumbled with the baton, which was carried by sports fans in a ten-month relay across the Commonwealth.
Watching from the wings, the glam Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward both got the giggles too.
Finally, with a little help from cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, the scroll of paper was retrieved, and the show could go on.
Other royals at the opening bash - which was watched by an estimated one billion viewers around the world - included the Duke of Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall.
Joining Rod Stewart, John Barrowman, and Susan Boyle were among some of the Scottish entertainers who performed for the sell-out crowd in Glasgow's Celtic Park.
The British Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance along with 2012 Olympic champions Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu, and Greg Rutherford.
The British royals will visit on the 28 and 29 July during which there will be swimming, athletics, gymnastics, and shooting for them to choose from.
Athletes such as Bradley Wiggins, Nicola Adams, and the Brownlee brothers, all of whom are hoping to win medals at the 2014 Glasgow games also attended the opening ceremony.
Around 4,500 sportsmen and women are expected to take part in the 17 games on offer at the Games, which runs from 23 July until 3 August.
Scotland's six-time Olympic and double Commonwealth champion Sir Chris Hoy said of the Games beforehand: "[They will be] the biggest and best Commonwealth Games we've ever seen."
Michael Jamison, who won silver in the 2012 Olympics and is hoping for gold at the Commonwealth Games added: "You can already see there's a buzz around the city. It's known as the friendly Games for a reason. It just has such a great feel about it."
