UPDATED: The Bulletin’s April Fools prank with Sunrise made it all the way to the UK, featuring in the Evening Standard.

media_camera The Bulletin's April Fools Day prank made it to the UK, appearing in the Evening Standard.

UPDATED: APRIL Fools! Did we trick you into thinking the 2018 Commonwealth Games would be called the Empire Games this morning?

In a national prank, Sunrise aired a segment at 7.40am this morning featuring Gold Coast Bulletin editor Cath Webber, champion swimming coach Laurie Lawrence and royal correspondent Rob Jobson.

media_camera Did you spot the hidden clue in the crown of the logo published in today’s Gold Coast Bulletin?

The trio debated the Bulletin’s exclusive story today about how the city’s Commonwealth Games in 2018 looks set for a name change to the Gold Coast Empire Games.

‘Leave me out of this, I don’t know where it’s come from or who has put it up, we are going to be the laughing stock of the Commonwealth,” Lawrence ranted in staunch opposition to the name change.

On the flip side, Ms Webber loved the idea with a tongue in cheek “Lighten up a little bit ... We’d probably draw the line at Hunger Games though”.

In today’s Gold Coast Bulletin, we featured the story with a hidden clue. Did you spot the ‘April Fools’ in the crown?

EARLIER: THE city’s Commonwealth Games in 2018 looks set for a name change to the Gold Coast Empire Games.

The Bulletin learned late last night that Buckingham Palace, British and Australian Government figures are negotiating a move back to using the “Empire’’ description.

The last Empire Games to be held in Australia was in 1962 in Perth, when it was called the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

The final Empire Games was held in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966. This was followed by Edinburgh in 1970 when the name was shortened to Commonwealth Games.

The shift back to the “Empire’’ follows Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to bring back knights and dames in the nation’s honours.

Insiders last night told the Bulletin correct protocol for an official announcement would be observed, meaning during a royal visit.

“With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge coming down under with Prince George in the next few weeks, you can work out for yourself what might happen,’’ said a source.