Colombo celebrates Diamond Jubilee

British zest became foremost on May 31, 2012 at Westminster House, Colombo when the British High Commissioner John Rankin received a distinguished assemblage of British citizens resident in Sri Lanka and those who are on a tour of duty here, together with an array of Sri Lankan Parliamentarians, in a cheerful atmosphere. There was an abundance of food and drink and visitors were waited on by local staff sporting British Home Guard uniform.

A sniff of British ambience to the evening was further added by security guards donning the British Police uniform and appearing like the ‘British Bobby on the beat’, while a local ensemble emulated the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing ‘God Save the Queen’. An array of Union Jacks glided effortlessly with the breeze to the melodious music and the ceremony was to mark the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee which is being officially celebrated throughout Britain during the first week of June.

Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II is also the Head of Commonwealth of Nations of which Sri Lanka is a member. In general terminology ‘Diamond Jubilee’ is a celebration to mark the 75th anniversary, but in the case of a monarch the length of his/her reign is calculated as 60 years to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, a concept that has become customary since Queen Victoria’s reign in 1897. In such a backdrop, the Diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, in 2012, befits the convention as the second of its nature in Britain’s history. The Queen was born at 17 Bruton St, London W1 on April 21, 1926, and Christened on May 29, 1926. Although her real birthday is on April 21, officially it is celebrated in June. This makes the year 2012 unique where her birthday and Diamond Jubilee celebration could be combined together. The Queen married The Duke of Edinburgh on November 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey. With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, she became the first reigning Sovereign to have a child since Queen Victoria, who had her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, in 1857. Queen Elizabeth II is the second longest serving monarch. Five others in British history who have reigned for 50 years or more were Victoria (63), George III (59), Henry III (56), Edward III (50) and James VI of Scotland (James I of England) for 58 years.

Britains Queen Elizabeth II waves from her seat in the 1902 State Landau coach during the carriage procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee in London on June 5, 2012. AFP

From her official aspect of administrative functions, the Queen has attended to three and a half million correspondence, sent 175,000 telegrams to centenarians in the UK and in the Commonwealth; almost 540,000 telegrams to couples in the UK and in the Commonwealth celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Busy schedule

In her 60 years of reign the Queen has undertaken 261 official overseas visits, including 96 state visits, to 116 different countries ranging from the Cocos Islands, which consist of an area of 5.4 square miles with a population of 596, to The Peoples' Republic of China with 3.7 million square miles and a population of 1.34 billion. Her Majesty’s first Commonwealth tour, as Queen Elizabeth II, began on November 24, 1953. Commencing from Canada the Royal visit covered Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, the Cocos Islands, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar.

In an average year the Queen will host more than 50,000 people at banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace.

Colombo celebration

A spectacular feature of the Colombo celebration was that the majority of invitees would have been born after she became Queen Elizabeth II. From a British legislative perspective Prime Minister Tony Blair, born in early May, 1953, a month before her Coronation was the first Prime Minister to have been born during the Queen's reign.

Through a reign of unparalleled change, from post-war Britain through to the jet age, space age and digital age, Queen Elizabeth II has remained resolutely unchanged in her commitment to her country by displaying her altruism, indefatigability, resoluteness and her superlative commitment by leading an exceptional life of service which should stand as an example to other world leaders to emulate.

British High Commissioner John Rankin raising a glass of champagne and proposing a toast to President Mahinda Rajapaksa noted thus:

Britains Queen Elizabeth II (C) waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace next to (from Left) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the end of a coach procession on the final ceremonial day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London on June 5, 2012. AFP

“Today is also an opportunity to celebrate all the things that bring Sri Lanka and the UK together. We have a deep historic relationship. But we also have modern relationship through people to people contact, our commercial relations and our cultural and sporting links.

“This relationship is based on mutual respect, our shares and values in the Commonwealth. As a friend of Sri Lanka, I can assure you that we will continue to support all the efforts of the government of Sri Lanka and its people to promote reconciliation and a sustainable peace in this country.” “The United Kingdom is proud of her heritage, which is part of what makes it the creative and vibrant place it is today.

“But during the past 60 years we have seen many changes in both our countries and indeed across the wider world. Throughout that period Her Majesty has been a source of inspiration for many people, young and old and of all ethnicities and beliefs”.

The Queen has held weekly audiences with 12 British Prime Ministers, and with her wisdom and enthusiasm has engaged with very many of the world’s leaders. This coming week’s Diamond jubilee celebrations in London, which will be attended by the President, will be an opportunity to celebrate all that she has achieved in her work across the Commonwealth. With the participation of High Commissioner John Rankin, a group of young Sri Lankans planted a tree at Westminster House to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The British High Commissioner consecrating the tree planting commented: “I hope it grows well, just as I look forward to see these young people growing to become leaders and active participants in Sri Lankan society in the future”.

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