Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in Kent and Surrey

The Queen's Baton Relay has arrived in Surrey as part of its journey around England, ahead of this summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The baton was passed to Alicia Wilson and Sarah Evans at Newlands Corner near Guildford.

Baton-bearers are taking it on to Tonbridge, Canterbury, Folkestone, Deal and Dover in Kent.

The relay then continues in Gravesend on Friday before moving on to Tilbury in Essex.

The tour began in London in October and is visiting 180 places during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year.

The relay began in the South East in Guildford at 08:00 BST on Thursday, taking in Newlands Corner, before arriving in Tonbridge at 09:30.

It made a stop at Abbey Sports Centre in Faversham, where a dance troupe performed.

At 13:30 the relay set off through the streets of Canterbury to the sounds of a choir.

It is due to reach Folkestone's skate park at about 15:35, and travel between Deal and Walmer from 18:00.

The last stop of the relay was in Dover, where it finished on top of the white cliffs, with celebrations later at Dover Castle.

Neil McCollum, head of historic properties at English Heritage Kent said: "It's great to have the Queen's Baton Relay coming here to Dover Castle, the iconic fortress on the White Cliffs feels like a fitting backdrop to mark its arrival in Kent."

On Friday the relay starts at 08:00 at the Guru Nanak Dabar Gurdwara in Gravesend - the biggest Sikh temple in Europe.

There will be a 15 minute relaxation and contemplation ceremony with local faith leaders and members of the local authority outside the front of the temple, before the baton is taken to Essex for its next leg of the journey to Birmingham for the opening ceremony of the games.

The Queen's Baton Relay has been a Commonwealth Games tradition since it first appeared at the 1958 games in Cardiff, when it was then known as the Empire Games.

The latest relay began on 7 October 2021, with the Queen placing her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.

The baton ends its 294-day journey in Birmingham on 28 July, the day of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

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