The Queen will not be attending the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Buckingham Palace confirmed today.
But Prince Charles will help to kick off the biggest multi-sports event in the UK since the London Olympics in 2012.
Charles, who will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will deliver a speech at Thursday's opening ceremony.
Duran Duran will then perform before a global TV audience of 1.5bn and 35,000 spectators in the revamped Alexander Stadium, where Charles will also read a message from the Queen.
It will be carried to the event in the Commonwealth Games Baton, which has been to all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth during a 294-day journey.
Members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal and Earl and Countess of Wessex, will also visit various events at Birmingham.
A Palace spokesman confirmed they will meet competitors, volunteers and support staff. During a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda last month, Charles said he was looking forward to visiting the games.
He said: "In a world currently riven by conflict and division, these Games - so aptly called 'the friendly games' - stand as a shining celebration of our unity, our diversity and our pursuit of shared excellence."
The 72 nations compete at 15 different venues in 280 medal events from July 28 to August 8, seven in the city of Birmingham.
A host of stars are set to take part, including England's Adam Peaty, who will be in four events in his comeback from injury. The eight-times world champion broke his right foot in the gym in May.
But he goes in the men's 50m and 100m breaststroke as well as the men's and mixed 4x100m medley relay.
New world 1500m champion Jake Wightman will also be hot favourite as he competes for Scotland.
Athletics legend Seb Coe said he now has the opportunity to seal his place in history. "He has won the World Championship, and now has the Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Olympics," he added.
"He has the chance to put all four together and become the most decorated middle distance runner that we have ever had."
A replica of an iconic King Kong statue has also returned to Birmingham - bigger than ever. The giant gorilla sculpture will be displayed at a pop-up park on Great Hampton Row, near the Jewellery Quarter.
It is 50 years since the original statue by artist Nicholas Monro was on show for four months in 1972. Marcus Hawley, from project organisers Cordia Blackswan, said King Kong was a "cultural memory" in the city.
People who have never seen the original statue remember "pictures on mantelpieces" and memories from older generations, he added.
