The fallout from a largely successful opening ceremony was a key talking point at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

The appearance of the Prince Of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall was of particular interest, with journalists taking the chance to quiz Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin about the pair – and the distracted looks they wore at times during the event – at a media briefing.

Camilla in particular “was absolutely shattered” and “jet-lagged”, according to Martin.

“She had just got off the plane in the morning with a full duty [for the day] and then she sat in the car from Brisbane down to here,” she added.

“She got 20 minutes to change before she was due at another reception … when you’re back to back like that off a long-haul flight … she literally hates flying.

“She really does, she hates it.”

Tellingly, Martin then revealed what Camilla was actually thinking, saying: “She really wanted to go to sleep.”

Martin did add that although she “didn’t see the facial expressions” of the pair during the night, she was sure Camilla “really enjoyed herself”.

“The comments between the Duchess and Prince Charles and myself, she was asking questions all the time. They both enjoyed it.”

The Duchess was a keen spectator at the cycling on Thursday evening.

‘I can’t win’

Also on the ceremony, singer Ricki-Lee Coulter hit out at critics on social media who suggested she mimed during her performance.

“I feel like I can’t win. If I sing well, there’s always like ‘Ugh, Ricki-Lee’s miming’,” Coulter said on radio station KIIS FM.

“Unless I have an off night and then everyone’s like ‘Ricki can’t sing … she’s s––t’.”

The nurse who saved Australia

On to the sport and Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch, who is also a nurse, was largely to thank for an unconvincing 1-0 win over lowly-ranked Canada.

Unable to put scoreboard pressure on its opponents, Australia held on for dear life, with Lynch making a string of important saves.

Why Ian Thorpe was left shocked

Controversy surrounded the heats of the men’s 50m butterfly after English star Ben Proud was disqualified for moving on the blocks.

Proud went on to thrash the field, winning by more than a body length in a time that would have been a Commonwealth Games record.

But when he got out of the pool, he received the bad news, and an appeal against the decision was later disqualified, leaving Proud distraught.

“Wow … it’s the slightest of movement. It wouldn’t have been advantageous in any way,” Aussie great Thorpe said on the Seven Network.

The photo

The Aussie who wins a medal … just for showing up

Boxer Taylah Robertson will benefit from rare circumstances that will guarantee her a Games medal before she throws a punch.

Just seven boxers were eligible in the women’s 51kg category and Robertson was the lucky recipient of a first-round bye due to the odd numbers.

That guarantees her a berth in the last four – to take place next Friday – and, per Games rules, both losing semi-finalists win a bronze medal.

“It’s nice to have a medal but I want gold … I want to earn it,” Robertson said.

The tweet

6.6 million viewers reached with @7CommGames last night. The biggest opening ceremony in over a decade, with average 2.0 million viewers, increasing to 2.7 million nationally. @Channel7 is #1 with 52.7% network share and 43.8% primary share, winning all markets and all demos.

— Seven West Media (@sevenwestmedia) April 4, 2018

Friday’s action

Another big night in the pool is on the cards, with local Mitch Larkin a chance of winning gold medals in both the men’s 400m individual medley (9.17pm AEST) and his pet event, the 100m backstroke final (9.36pm).

Butterfly star Chad Le Clos from South Africa will contest the men’s 50m butterfly final (7.37pm) minus Proud, and Aussie hopes Kyle Chalmers and Mack Horton are chances in the 200m freestyle (7.56pm).

There’s also the women’s 100m butterfly (9.51pm), as home favourites Emma McKeon and Madeline Groves take on Canadian sensation Penny Oleksiak, but the swimming action will be headlined by the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, which begins at 10.07pm.

Also on Friday, our netballers take on Barbados from 8.30pm (AEST), while both of our basketball teams are in action from 5.33pm (AEST).

Our men’s and women’s beach volleyballers are in action, and there’s more medal events in track cycling, artistic gymnastics and weightlifting.

The Games Guide will be published each day throughout the 2018 Commonwealth Games.