Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

Prince Charles and India’s President Pratibha Patil will declare open the Games at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

“Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, received the royal couple here,” a press release from the organisers said.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had asked the Prince to represent her at the opening of the Commonwealth Games after deciding to give a miss to the ceremony.

“The Prince will spend time with athletes from a broad cross-section of Commonwealth countries,” the release added.