Gold Coast Commonwealth Games: Is the Queen attending the Opening Ceremony TODAY and who will perform the ribbon-cutting?
THE 2018 Commonwealth Games takes place from April 4-15 with 70 nations and territories taking part.
The trip will be the first official Royal visit to the Gold Coast in more than 50 years.
But who is actually going from the Royal Family and will the Queen be there to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony?
Here is the full lowdown on what to expect when this colossal event gets underway on Wednesday.
Ok, is Queen Elizabeth II making the trip?
No. The Queen, 91, no longer undertakes long-haul overseas travel. Her last trip to Australia, in 2011, was assumed at the time to be her last.
But the Commonwealth Games will begin with what event CEO David Grevemberg describes as "a secret message in a bottle" from a very special patron.
Grevemberg will be looking to "uphold Her Majesty's vision and passion for the Commonwealth."
And proceedings will kick off with speech by The Queen that will be removed from a baton that has toured the predominantly former British Empire nations that make up the Commonwealth.
It will be read out by her son, Prince Charles.
He will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall in the stadium at the opening ceremony.
What is The Queen's role in the Commonwealth Games Federation?
The Queen remains patron of the Federation but she has passed on many of the duties to her family.
The Queen's third son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, is vice-patron.
Her husband, Prince Philip, has also played an important role over the years but he, of course, retired from public duties last summer.
Who will actually open the Games then?
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will open the Games and read out The Queen's customary message, calling on athletes to come together in the spirit of friendly competition.
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The Prince of Wales opened the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi on The Queen's behalf.
This will be the seventh time His Royal Highness has attended the Commonwealth Games.
Additionally, HRH The Earl of Wessex will attend the Games in his capacity as Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
