Bermuda scraps Queen birthday celebration
Bermuda, Britain’s oldest colony, is to scrap the Queen’s Offical Birthday holiday from next year. The ruling Progressive Labour Party has ordained a National Heroes’ Day on October 13 instead.
Many Bermudans are incensed by “the insult to our Sovereign” and over 2000 have signed an online petition to say so. Cameron Hollis, the organizer of the petition said, “Clearly, the removal of our Sovereign’s birthday as a public holiday is inexcusable.” He called the decision, “a blatant insult to Her Majesty.”
Curiously, while some former British colonies, including Australia and New Zealand, celebrate the birthday with a day off work, Britain itself does not.
The mid-Atlantic island has a population of 65,000. They normally celebrate the birthday with a bank holiday and a traditional military parade in June.
Some are saying that the new holiday will coincide with a prestigious golf tournament which has been awarded to Bermuda for two years.
The Roundheads are on the march again.
This may not bode well for the future of the Sovereign’s role in the Commonwealth, and (separately) as head of many states, when the Crown passes. QE II has been the glue. Time will tell if Charles will command the same authority or find more holidays in his favor disappear.
The Empire has been a long time passing. Of course, Bermuda may come to its senses.
By Dan on April 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
By Gigi on April 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
It also has a fairly hard-left government which can be guaranteed to be hostile to a Monarchy. The Queen will have seen it all before.
By John on April 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Besides intangibles like “Empire” and “Tradition” and “global stature”, what is lost to if Bermuda, Canada, and Australia break off and elect (or crown) their own heads of state?
Obviously, if Britain (or England, Scotland, or Wales) chose such a course it would be dire, to say the least. But are their tangible losses if the other countries go republic, or would it just be us sentimentals and romantics who feel the Queen’s pain?
By Dan on April 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Dan, I believe it would be borne with great stoicism by the reigning Monarch.
When Hong Kong was handed back to China after the 150-year lease had expired, it was the Governor, Chris Patten, who wept, not Prince Charles, who called the Chinese leaders “appalling old waxworks”.
The Queen refused to go to the ceremony.
By John on April 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Chris Patten wept because he knew what the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong would mean for the people living there, John, and any compassionate, aware person would have wept in that same instance. I believe the Queen refused to go to the ceremony because she disapproved of China taking back Hong Kong and did not want to dignify the ceremony with her presence. It was a well-considered decision, as is every decision the Queen makes. Charles may have had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something far more impolitic than what he did say! That occasion was a no-win situation for everyone, including the Chinese government, but they won’t figure that out for a while yet.
By Gigi on April 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Charles would never make a diplomat.
By John on April 18th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
dont know about the politics of this but just to chim in - think its just plain rude and disrespectful to the queen..
By coni on April 18th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I think it’s a rude way to go about it — I hope the Queen didn’t first hear about it from the Daily Mail — but I think it’s inevitable that the overseas cords are going to be cut one way or the other, sooner or later.
Maybe William will drown out the bad news with a coming-of-age announcement of his own.
By Dan on April 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Well, it was a Reuters report first, so I’m sure the Palace press office would have picked it up, as we did.
I think though, even the Bermuda government would have had the courtesy to inform the Queen through their High Commissioner in London, rather than let her find out via the press.
By John on April 18th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
with all of her years of experience theres probably little that bothers her…
By coni on April 18th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Actually, I suspect that it did bother the Queen. She has been very beautifully brought up by her parents to be what she is, gracious, charming and perfectly mannered. Bad manners and discourtesy in others is always upsetting to her. Let us hope that in this case, the Queen considered the source. Even for anti-Royal liberals, this is buffoonish behavior. What they have achieved is to make utter fools of themselves on the international stage.
By Gigi on April 18th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
you really think so gigi? understanding that she was well brought up i would think at this point she would have “seen/heard it all” and it would take alot more than this to upset her…
By coni on April 18th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I recall when she met with some media moguls some years ago, one of them got a bit contentious with the Queen and she firmly told him that one does not resort to rudeness with a reigning monarch. It reminded me of Queen Victoria’s famous rejoiner “We are not amused…” These things do bother her, I feel sure.
By Gigi on April 18th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Perhaps Charles’ and Camilla’s next island cruise should be to Bermuda. This might soothe some ruffled feathers.
By Arthur on April 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
After their last island cruise, I doubt Camilla would sign on for another– at least not with Charles, not a “working vacation.”
By Evelyn on April 19th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Evelyn, that’s all the more reason why it should be a cruise!
By Arthur on April 19th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Arthur, are you seeing this proposed cruise to Bermuda as a punishment for Camilla?
By Evelyn on April 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I agree, Evelyn, that any cruise with Charles would be a punishment for Camilla. She barely survived the last one.
By Gigi on April 19th, 2008 at 1:45 am
What happened at the last cruise with Chucky and his bride? Do tell!
As far as tourism dollars falling in Bermuda, I seriously doubt that. Most Americans go to Bermuda for those white beaches and warm sunshine - not for the fact that the Queen was a ceremonial head of state. Just my humble opinion. It’s really only a matter of time before the rest do about the same, only I hope they go about it in a more diplomatic way.
By On the Outside on April 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Actually, the daughter of a friend of ours just yesterday cancelled her plans for a ‘location’ wedding in Bermuda and is moving her nuptials to another island paradise location. There are many to chose from, after all, why spend your money on an island run by ill-behaved boors?
By Gigi on April 19th, 2008 at 8:44 pm