Retired cysclist Anna Mears from Australia receives the baton from Britain's Queen Elizabeth as Louise Martin, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation looks on during the launch of the Queen's baton Relay for the XX1 Commonwealth Games to be held on Australia's Gold Coast next year, on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London, March 13, 2017. REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool
LONDON (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth launched the 2018 Commonwealth Games baton relay on Monday as the South African city of Durban lost the right to host the 2022 edition of the multi-sport event.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2022 Games, the 90-year-old monarch started the countdown to next year's showpiece on the Gold Coast, Australia with a message of "respect and understanding" for others as part of a day of events commemorating the 52-country alliance.
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