Commonwealth Games Gets Awkward With the Queen and a Baton

 By 
Jenni Ryall
 on 
Commonwealth Games Gets Awkward With the Queen and a Baton
Credit: DashRoyal

SYDNEY -- The 20th Commonwealth Games kicked off with an opening ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday morning. And if Rod Stewart's appearance wasn't awkward enough -- see, below -- it got worse.

I never thought I'd be able to stand in the Celtic Board Room in front of the trophy case. . . with no pants. pic.twitter.com/FClLZZm0ke— Rod Stewart (@rodstewart) July 23, 2014


Commonwealth Games president Prince Imran, from Malaysia, was supposed to retrieve the Queen's message from a baton, and hand it over to Her Majesty to read to the crowd. Simple, right? Not quite.

Imran tried and tried to open the lid. It was kind of funny, at first.

Oopsie the Baton wouldn't open lol #CommonwealthGames #Glasgow2014 :-) pic.twitter.com/YLBxqwXwG4— astrostar (@astrostar01) July 23, 2014

There was great concern from the three viewers.

How many Olympians does it take to open a baton? #CommonwealthGames— Jeevesina (@jeevesina) July 23, 2014

You couldn't have failed at a worse #CommonwealthGames— Ollie wilton-steer (@SteerOllie) July 23, 2014

@Queen_UK: nah, the other way, you mug! #CommonwealthGames— Dan Heap (@commentdan) July 23, 2014

A desperate call for help.

Has anyone got a tin opener? #CommonwealthGames— Hill & Ellis (@HillandEllis) July 23, 2014

Then Scottish Olympian Chris Hoy came to the rescue.

damn those pesky 'child-proof' tops eh @chrishoy! :-) #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/ljeceamcdg— Lewlew #44 H.A.M (@IamLewis4fake) July 23, 2014

I spoke to soon. @chrishoy just turned up. #Legend #StoleTheShow #CommonwealthGames— John Gammage (@jjgammage) July 23, 2014

Chris Hoy takes the Gold in Lid Loosening. #CommonwealthGames— Chris Banks (@ChrisBanksMusic) July 23, 2014

The prince and the athlete fought over who was stronger.

Chris Hoy "go oan I loosened it for ye" #Glasgow2014 #CommonwealthGames— SRUCSA President (@SRUCSAPresident) July 23, 2014

Highlight: The Queen watches as Chris Hoy & Games president struggled to open the baton #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/QOLkhrJf5f— Dash (@DashRoyal) July 23, 2014

How many men does it take to open the Common Wealth Batton... #openingceremony #CommonwealthGames— Lucy A.R Shiels (@lshiels18) July 23, 2014

‘Queen Elizabeth’ got impatient.

Come on, come on, come on. #CommonwealthGames— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) July 23, 2014

Then there was relief.

Phew - for a minute there I thought they'd broken the baton #CommonwealthGames— Paul Taylor (@pjtaylor) July 23, 2014

Biggest cheer of the night goes to the guy finally getting the lid off the baton. #CommonwealthGames— Jordan Mackenzie (@Jordan4Peeps) July 23, 2014

The Queens face when they finally opened the baton #CommonwealthGames #glasgow2014 pic.twitter.com/pjBUfDEeJk— Craig Rees (@craggy2593) July 23, 2014

Hoy makes it clear who was responsible.

Jesus Christ. That was the most awkward thing that's ever happened. His difficult is it to unscrew a sodding baton?! #CommonwealthGames— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) July 23, 2014

@chrishoy great look towards @Queen_UK #CommonwealthGames #baton #screwtop pic.twitter.com/LhRqzgftQz— Andrew McNab (@Andrew_McNab) July 23, 2014

Let the games finally begin.

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