King’s Baton Relay on Norfolk Island

The King’s Baton Relay will officially launch on Monday 9 March 2026, marking the beginning of an exciting series of community events. Throughout the week, the King’s Baton will visit the Norfolk Island Central School, Auraville Maze, the Botanical Gardens, Government House, Glass Bottom Boat, and the Norfolk Island Bowls Club. Nominated Baton Bearers will proudly represent their respective sporting associations at selected stops along the route.

The King’s Baton Relay is a celebration of athletes past, present, and future. It unites Commonwealth communities around the world and invites millions to join the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Norfolk Island’s own Baton — beautifully decorated and painted by three talented students from the Norfolk Island Central School — will be officially unveiled on Monday 9 March. This will be a moment of pride for the entire community. Each Baton carries a special word drawn from King Charles III’s message for the Games. Norfolk Island’s Baton features the word “proud,” symbolising our land, culture, and people.

The community is warmly invited to view the Baton at the Norfolk Island Bowls Club on Wednesday 11 March 2026 from 6:00 pm.

As part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign, the Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association also invites community members to join a clean-up effort meeting at Lone Pine parking area, Kingston on Sunday 8 March 2026 at 7:30 am. Together, we can help protect our beaches and reserves.

Further KBR information:

The King’s Baton Relay will be a reimagined Relay for a new era, connecting the Commonwealth and celebrating culture, diversity and a shared sustainable future. For the first time ever, each nation and territory will receive their own Baton that they will decorate and celebrate during their activities.

For the first time the Commonwealth Games Federation will partner with the Royal Commonwealth Society to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign. The aim is for athletes and communities to come together to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth oceans and waterways before Glasgow 2026.

The King’s Baton Relay commenced from Buckingham Palace on 10 March 2025 and concludes 500 days later on 23 July 2026 at the Games Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The KBR will be a major highlight of the Games Opening Ceremony and the finale of the 500-day journey to all 74 Commonwealth Nations and Territories. The King’s message, which has been symbolically carried across the Commonwealth during the KBR, will then be read aloud to officially declare the Games open.

The Baton design, materials and craftsmanship is rich in Glaswegian history and Games Legacy. Each Baton is formed out of ash trees which are from local parks in Glasgow.

In a break from recent tradition and like the first ever Queen’s Baton Relay in Cardiff in 1958, the Baton takes more of a traditional shape. It is simple, sustainable with no complex electronics or chambers. Each end is tapered to allow two people to hold the Baton at the same time, creating moments of connection throughout the KBR and across the Commonwealth.