In a display as whimsical as it was grand, the Head of the Commonwealth made a spectacular entrance amidst a time-traveling blue box, joined by unicorns frolicking on stage and a giant teacake erupting with flames.
These captivating moments headlined the inauguration of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which kicked off in Glasgow on Friday morning.
The event had originally been slated for Victoria, which withdrew in 2023, citing escalating expenses.
Glasgow, a city familiar with hosting the games since 2014, valiantly stepped in to rescue the event, showcasing its most dazzling unicorns to celebrate the rescue mission in style.
Operating on a streamlined budget, this edition of the Commonwealth Games has prompted discussions about its relevance, especially in light of the Victorian government’s decision to bow out.
But despite the troubles, Friday’s ceremony was a party — with scenes that looked like they could have been plucked from vivid dreams.
King Charles and Camilla arrive by TARDIS
One of the most unique scenes from Friday morning was the image of King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a very large TARDIS — the name for the time machine in the long-running British sci-fi television show, Doctor Who.
Gasps and cheers came from the crowd as the royal couple appeared on a stage that transformed into a magic garden.
Scotland’s largest city welcomed able-bodied and para-athletes from 74 competing nations, including a third of Australia’s 257-strong team who were part of the procession.
It’s not the first time a monarch has appeared at a similar event. For the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, Queen Elizabeth II appeared to skydive into the stadium alongside Daniel Craig, James Bond-style.
In Glasgow, the UK’s new prime minister Andy Burnham was also in attendance, alongside Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and the First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth.
A party — with unicorns
The opening ceremony traversed through many facets of Glasgow’s history and culture, starting with a day in the life of the industrial city, pictured under its famous Glasgow Central Station clock.
The flashmob soon descended into a bizarre fever dream, where dancing unicorns with traffic cones paid tribute to the city’s underground club culture.
For decades, traffic cones have been regularly placed on an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington and remain a symbol of Glaswegians’ resistance to authority.
The unicorn is both a nod to the playful tradition and the creature being the national animal of Scotland since the 1300s.
There were also plenty of cameos and performances, including from a range of Scottish celebrities.
Former Doctor Who actor Sylvester McCoy made an appearance, as well as comedian Greg McHugh, cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, and singers Callum Beattie, KT Tunstall, Tom Walker and Nathan Evans.
King Charles even had the pleasure of meeting the official mascot for the 2026 Games — a unicorn named Finnie, with a traffic cone for a horn and a pink-and-purple mane.
Loch Ness Monsters and flaming teacakes
Victoria’s withdrawal was also referenced throughout the night — with George Black, chair of the Glasgow 2026 organising committee, hailing Scotland’s cultural capital for saving the games.
“A city built by people who believe that when something matters, you step forward,” Black said on stage.
“When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn’t ask, ‘can we?’
“We asked, “When do we get started?'”
Even Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, cleared up its schedule to make an appearance.
The creature appeared on a screen before being magically coaxed onto the stage by actor Sam Heughan of Outlander fame and a group of bagpipers.
The finale featured a giant teacake with pyrotechnics flowing from it, taking off from the centre of the stage.
It was a nod to the dancing Teacakes which appeared the last time Glasgow hosted the event in 2014.
Back then, dancers wore costumes representing dessert and national treasure, Tunnock’s Tea Cakes — which is a Scottish treat of chocolate-covered marshmallows — and quickly became a worldwide hit.
At the time, a single teacake prop sold at official auctions for over $3,000.
Today’s ceremony was held at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, which fits about 15,000 people, and was the first time a Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was held indoors.
— With reporting by the Australian Associated Press.