Three years after the Commonwealth Games faced near extinction, King Charles and Queen Camilla made a grand entrance from a Tardis at the Hydro in Glasgow to kick off the 2026 opening ceremony. Operated by cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and actor Greg McHugh, the Tardis soared over iconic Scottish landmarks, including Loch Ness and Edinburgh Castle, before landing in the packed arena that holds 14,000 spectators.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the familiar strains of Doctor Who filled the air, echoing the memorable moment from London 2012 when the late Queen Elizabeth appeared to skydive into the Olympic Stadium alongside Daniel Craig.

The Tardis holds special significance for Glasgow, as it was inspired by the city’s police telephone boxes designed by the Scottish architect Gilbert Mackenzie in 1928.

This year’s opening ceremony marks a historic shift, being the first to take place indoors due to a comprehensive restructuring of the Games' finances. This change followed the withdrawal of Australian state Victoria as the host, citing spiraling costs in 2023.

The future of the Commonwealth Games, which began as the British Empire Games in 1930, was uncertain until Glasgow stepped in to host once again, mirroring its role from 2014 but with major adjustments. The revamped Glasgow Games now include only 10 sports, a reduction from 19 in Birmingham 2022, and will take place across four existing venues within an eight-mile corridor, all while costing a quarter of what it did 12 years ago.