The Queen arrives in Melbourne From: AAP March 15, 2006 THE Queen has arrived in Melbourne ahead of tonight's opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the royal couple touched down at Melbourne Airport at 12.30pm (AEDT). The chartered British Airways 777 taxied to a secure area of the tarmac where about 150 people were waiting to greet the couple.
The crowd – a mix of Games volunteers, airport staff, and families – cheered as the Queen, wearing a lime-coloured dress and hat, left the plane.
The Queen shook hands and greeted several members of the crowd before leaving in a black limousine.
Commonwealth Games chief executive Ron Walker and Victorian Premier Steve Bracks were among those to greet the monarch.
Her next official engagement is the Prime Minister's luncheon, to be held at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building from 1pm. The Queen will receive the Commonwealth Games baton during a high point of tonight's opening ceremony, which will be staged inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground and also on the Yarra River from 8pm.
