SCOTTISH violinist Nicola Benedetti played for the creme de la creme of the Commonwealth at a special ceremony to launch the Glasgow 2014 Queen's ­Baton Relay.

The West Kilbride-born star joined some of Scotland's greatest athletes, inspirational young people and VIPs for the event at Buckingham Palace.

She performed the Robert Burns song My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose for gathered dignitaries including Prince Imran, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

But Ms Benedetti later complained she had had "a lot of competition" from a noisy helicopter that hovered over the area all day.

Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy paraded the ­baton down The Mall accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and Pipes and Drums 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Olympic champion and two-time Commonwealth gold medallist Allan Wells was the first athlete to receive the ­baton as it embarked on its 248-day journey.

The Queen had placed her message calling the athletes to next summer's Games inside the baton. It will now travel to the 70 participating nations and territories of the Commonwealth before being opened at the Opening Ceremony.

Next up to take the baton were Team Scotland members Olympic swimmer and double Commonwealth Gold medallist Caitlin McLatchey, gymnast and Olympic Bronze ­medallist Daniel Purvis, gymnast Cara Kennedy, triple jumper Morgan McKinnon and Scottish Junior swimmer Ruairi Kirkwood.

They were joined by Glasgow 2014's first selected Games-time volunteer Izzy Conway, the designer of the Glasgow 2014 tartan Aamir Mehmood, former Scotland's Strongest Man Gregor ­Edmonds and the Evening Times' para-sport champion Julie McElroy.

Schoolgirl Beth Gilmour, who designed the Games' ­official mascot Clyde, was also present.

A total of 70 young people, chosen by the Games' international charity partner UNICEF UK, carried flags from the 70 nations and territories.

Crowds gathered outside the palace as the celebrations began and senior representatives of Glasgow 2014 Games Partners including First Minister Alex Salmond, Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, and Michael ­Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland also attended.

Today, the baton will return to Scotland where, in Stirling, the Scottish route and details of the recruitment of the 4000 Scottish Baton bearers will be revealed.

It will then visit Glasgow City Chambers for a civic ­reception before departing from Glasgow International Airport to Delhi, India - the host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said the launch of the relay was a "truly momentous day" for Glasgow.

It will leave Glasgow Airport to cover a 190,000km journey across the Commonwealth before returning to tour Scotland ahead of the Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park.

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk