How to see the 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay as it heads to the Cambridge region

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay comes to the East of England this week as it continues its 25-day tour of England, arriving in Cambridge on Saturday (July 9).

Also tomorrow, the relay will stop off at King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Bury St Edmunds and Hinxton, and will join Saturday’s Cambridge Pride celebrations at Jesus Green.

The relay in the East of England will begin in Gravesend on Friday (July 8) at Guru Nanak Dabar Gurdwara, the biggest Sikh temple in Europe, with a private relaxation and contemplation ceremony.

Cllr Jenny Gawthrope Wood, deputy mayor of Cambridge, will welcome the Queen’s Baton party carrying the baton to Cambridge as part of its journey across the Commonwealth on a tour of 72 nations and territories.

The baton will arrive at Jesus Green by punt at approximately 4.30pm and will be presented on the Pride stage for around 30 minutes before leaving at around 5.15pm.

To celebrate the baton’s visit, Cambridge City Council is organising a series of fun, sports-based family activities on Jesus Green that will take place throughout the afternoon from 2pm including Football Fun Factory, inflatable football darts, Outspoken Cycles, Go Xplore, Cambs tennis, family play zone and skateboarding.

Cllr Gawthrope Wood said: “The baton is a symbol of solidarity and collaboration between communities, embracing unique cultures and sharing inspirational stories, so it’s really fitting that it’s coming to Cambridge Pride.

“The council is putting on a range of fun activities for all the family to keep everyone entertained until the baton arrives and I’m looking forward to meeting lots of residents as well as welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay team on what will be a special day for the city.”

[Read more: In pictures: How the Cambridge region marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee]

The Wellcome Genome Campus and South Cambridgeshire District Council will also be welcoming the baton on the day by hosting a science and sport fun day, a ticketed free event.

The baton will arrive at approximately 3pm and will be carried by a series of baton bearers through the campus between approximately 3.25pm and 3.35pm. They will then head to the stage where they will be welcomed by director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Professor Sir Mike Stratton, and council chair, Cllr Anna Bradnam, between 3.35pm and 3.50pm. For tickets, go to bit.ly/3NBKPbW.

The relay began in October 2021, with the Queen placing her message to the Commonwealth into the baton. The baton is now on its 294-day long journey to every corner of the Commonwealth, including a 25 day tour of the UK.

The relay will culminate in host city Birmingham, where it will take a central role in the Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony on July 28. The relay will showcase untold stories from specially nominated baton-bearers who have transformed lives in their community, be it through sport, education, the arts, culture or charity.

For more information, visit birmingham2022.com/queens-batonrelay/route. For more on the Queen’s Baton Relay, visit birmingham2022.com/qbr.