Let the fun and games begin! Fans gather in Glasgow for the spectacular opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games as ONE BILLION people tune in (and the BBC's even got a tartan sofa)

Glasgow has welcomed the world with an exuberant and proud opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games at the city's Celtic Park.

Actor John Barrowman led the evening's entertainment, as he paraded around the arena singing the praises of Scotland's contributions to the planet - not least Tunnocks Tea Cakes and Irn Bru.

Dressed in a purple suit, Barrowman made his entrance from beneath a giant kilt and kissed a veil-wearing male 'bride' at a mock Gretna Green wedding.

Then, as dozens of dancers jigged around him, the flamboyant star took an estimated one billion viewers on a journey celebrating the Loch Ness monster, heather, and the nation's inventions, such as the TV and the steam engine.

There was also singing on top of whisky barrels and St Andrews was celebrated as the home of golf.

The crowd cheer as streamers fall from the rafters at the spectacular event

The Queen was greeted by rapturous applause when she appeared at Celtic Park

The Duke of Edinburgh points something out to The Queen at the Opening Ceremony. Right, the Queen walks along the brightly-coloured floor soon after she arrives

The Queen and Duke were met by Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Michael Kavanagh, Glasgow 2014 organising committee chairman Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin and Commonwealth Games Federation president Prince Imran from Malaysia.

She was presented with a posy before being welcomed by Scottish broadcaster Robbie Shepherd, who provides the commentary at the annual Braemar Gathering of which the Queen is patron.

Members of the audience joined in the singing of God Save The Queen by Robert Lovie, with the mountains and glens of Scotland as a backdrop on the huge screen.

As she arrived into the arena, Her Majesty was greeted with a massive cheer which was all the more surprising considering the traditional sympathies of Celtic supporters.

The club has long been associated with Glasgow's Irish community and therefore with Irish nationalism and in the past would have been more likely to boo the national anthem which is sung enthusiastically by their bitter rivals Rangers.

The Queen's baton, meanwhile, arrived on Clydeside on board a sea-plane which viewers watched land near the SECC complex, which will host several of the competitions.

Round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont, who has followed the baton on its 190,000km journey, emerged from the plane with it held aloft to waiting crowds.

Earlier in the ceremony, dancers from Scottish Ballet performed a routine to an acoustic version of The Proclaimers hit I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).

Spectacle: John Barrowman with performers during the 20th Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park in Glasgow

Scottish legend: Dancers perform with a Loch Ness Monster during the energetic and proud ceremony

Speaking in an earlier video message on the stadium's 100-metre wide screen, Unicef ambassador Ewan McGregor told the crowd: 'I'm proud to say welcome to Scotland, welcome to Glasgow, welcome to the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.'

Earlier, a party atmosphere descended on Celtic Park when the gates opened for the audience of 40,000 people and singing and dancing were seen in the streets around the venue

High spirits have been helped along by warm sunny weather in the city, where temperatures hit a high of 25C (77F) earlier.

Cast members were getting ready for what has been described as the most prestigious live event ever seen in Scotland.

The eyes of the world fell on Glasgow with a global television audience of more than one billion people expected to tune in to watch the events unfold.

Thousands of people have begun heading through the gates for the ceremony, many carrying flags from nations of the Commonwealth and others high-fiving volunteers and buying programmes for the event.

A smiling Queen Elizabeth is presented with a posy during the 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, as the Duke of Edinburgh looks on

Regal: The Queen is driven into the arena, to the delight of the estimated 40,000 spectators

An audience of around 40,000 have gathered at Celtic Park to witness the arrival of the Queen's baton and mark the official start of the 11-day competition

Jamaican fans in traditional dress were dancing and drumming, contrasting with the sound of bagpipes and the sight of spectators in tartan dresses and kilts.

Glasgow singer Amy Macdonald took over the entertainment as she appeared on screen strumming her guitar in the city's George Square before appearing in the arena itself.

There were huge cheers when she was joined in her performance of Rhythm Of My Heart by Rod Stewart, for whom the song was a big hit.

Susan Boyle followed with a version of the popular tune Mull Of Kintyre, co-written by Sir Paul McCartney and originally performed by Wings.

Wearing a purple dress with tartan-patterned lapels, Boyle was accompanied by the piano before the arrival of the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and young Highland dancers.

Team India, as the host of the 2010 Games, were the first competing nation to enter the arena to cheers from spectators.

Actor Ewan McGregor then introduced video footage from Bangladesh showing the work of Unicef to protect children affected by flooding there, and Indian cricketing star Sachin Tendulkar told viewers: 'We have an opportunity to show the world what we can do when we act as one.'

Flag bearer and Cyclist Fatehah Mustapa of Malaysia flies the flag at half mast. The athletes also wore black armbands in mourning over the flight MH17 crash

Flag bearer and Cyclist Anna Meares of Australia waves as she leads her nation into the arena

Proud nation: Team India were the first of the competitors to enter the stadium

Hi guys: One member of Team New Zealand with a heart-warming message for his parents

McGregor said: 'Tonight at the end of the parade we're going to come together as one Commonwealth family to do something amazing - we're going to put children first.

'We will change the lives of millions of children across the Commonwealth.'

Team Bangladesh entered the arena, followed by the six other Asian nations including Malaysia, who received a particularly loud cheer. Their flag was a t half mast and the athletes also wore black armbands in mourning over the flight MH17 crash

Each parade was led by a Scots man or woman in tweeds and walking a Scottish terrier wearing a jacket bearing the name of the country.

A second Unicef video featured Spooks and Line Of Duty actress Keeley Hawes, reporting on the importance of vaccination programmes for children.
Athletes from Team Australia were welcomed followed by the rest of the Oceania region, including Norfolk Island.

There were huge cheers when Amy McDonald was joined in her performance of Rhythm Of My Heart by Rod Stewart

Karen Dunbar (right) and John Barrowman (left) are flanked by tartan-clad dancers in the early part of the opening ceremony

In one of many quirky events during the ceremony, dancers dressed as Tunnock's Tea Cakes twirled around

Dancers from the Scottish Ballet (left) wow the crowd to a pared-down rendition of famous Scottish song '500 Miles'. Right, singer Susan Boyle performs Mull of Kintyre

Majestic: The RAF Red Arrows fly over Glasgow during the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park

Samantha Cameron (third from left) Prime Minster David Cameron, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (second from right) watch proceeding in Glasgow

The baton even travelled under water on its epic odyssey through The Commonwealth

DM