Visiting Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil was on Thursday handed over the Queen's Baton by Queen Elizabeth II, signaling the formal launch of the Commonwealth Games that is to take place in New Delhi in October next year.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, presents India's President Pratibha Patil with the baton to launch the XIX Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games outside Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo)