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World-wide celebrations as Overseas Territories honour Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Saturday, June 2nd 2012 - 04:07 UTC
Full article 36 comments

Like many other countries around the world, the UK's Overseas Territories will be marking The Queen's Diamond Jubilee by lighting Beacons. They will join the Beacon lighting across the UK, continuing a tradition, first started to communicate but now carried out as a symbol of unity. Read full article

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  • Idlehands

    Thanks for the bank holiday but it's time to get the hell out of town.

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 04:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    It's good to see so many British territories get involved in the jubilee celebrations.

    God Bless Her Majesty The Queen. Long may she reign, and long may the corruption of republicism (especially Argentine republicism) be absent from our shores and territories.

    @1. idlehands. Speak for yourself, the majority of people in Britain prefer the Constitutional Monarchy over a republic. The last time Britain was a republic it didn't turn out too well did it? That's why we (the people) asked for the restoration of Monarchy.

    Politicians are self serving, and liable to corruption. Conversley, Her Majesty has devoted her whole life to the service of the country and it's people.

    Show some conviction in your beliefs, forsake the public holiday, and go to work on Tuesday if you don't believe in the Monarchy.

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 08:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MistyThink

    The exhibitionist zanies !

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 09:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Room101

    Jealousy will get you nowhere. Take another look at the Union Jack- it is a flag of more than one nation.

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cLOHO

    3 - And as the Bond theme 'Nobody does it better' look and learn.
    Tinpot countries all round the world try but fail to replecate the majesty of a royal parade. Union flag is flying high in my garden, and its flying over Stanley in the falklands. As mentioned dont be jelous join in and celebrate HM the Queens Jubilee.

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 01:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JohnN

    Would be interesting to see more about the celebrations at Surf Bay!

    Surf Bay short video (sounds windy!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYb9WmYTpso

    Google Map Surf Bay (with some photos): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYb9WmYTpso

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    Isn't it nice to see nasty colonialist Britain shelling out for a proper airport on St Helena AND providing the operating budget for volcano and hurricane-damaged Montserrat AS WELL as providing “appropriate” defences for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands? I thought nasty colonialists were supposed to TAKE things from their colonies? But nasty colonialist Britain is spending £25 million a year for Montserrat, £250 million plus on St Helena and £75 million a year for the Falklands. Could “argieland” spend that sort of money? And Britain, despite constantly trumpeted claims that “the UK is finished”, doesn't even notice these minor expenditures. The sun may have set on the British Empire, but it hasn't set on Britain. And Britain will support and defend its Overseas Territories for as long as it takes!

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 03:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    AND, we are most fortunate to have in Her Majesty a person who has been the epitome of what Britain and Britons stand for: hard work, consideration for others and fair play.

    Long may she live.

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 03:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    God Save the Queen,
    God save Britain,

    The only down side, and I will be polite,
    Is no review of the fleet?
    And sadly we all know why.

    Thank you
    .

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    I d rather support a president than a free rider
    God bless America

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    10
    hope that was not an insult

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 08:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    It was a statement of preference .

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    so you are a troll then
    end of

    Jun 02nd, 2012 - 11:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    Oh excuse moi a troll sorry speak American to me buddy.
    Like I said before statement of preference Pom.
    The first amendment of a constitution to a real democratic country that allows me to have freedom of expression and since my feet are on American soil, I am using it.
    For the record you started with the name calling so be the big person and stop it wherever you live at

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 12:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Truth_Telling_Troll

    @5

    Join in? LOL

    I like these traditions from the standpoint of my interest in other countries' cultures. So I have no problem with them per say. Whether the running of the Bulls or bullfighting (which so many people object too, though I would agree the agonizing of the bull needs to end, if you need to kill the animal kill it humanely at the very end or something), to Oktoberfest, to Italian rennaissance festivals or the Papal traditions, to the French Bastille Day, to British royal consuetudes, the the American Superbowl, Carnival in Brazil, Chinese New year, etc ,etc, etc...

    But that doesn't mean I will be joining them! I respect your Queen and even use the term “Her majesty”, but I'm not her subject, so I'm not celebrating her.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 03:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • brit abroad

    @14 the US president and the Queen have very different roles. The queen has inherited a post as a figure head, a mascot to Britain. The US president does not convey the same message in the USA or overseas. So dont really see the point of your first post.

    the first amendment!!!!!! Love the way americans keep quoting this...as if its some great novel idea that they only have!!!!!!!!!! In fact, it is only relatively recently that “the right to freedom of expression” has actually been true/allowed.

    Are you sure you're an American? i thought Aussies called brits Poms.....oh sorry thats your right of freedom of expression.

    True democracy....hehe....two party system, so basically you can select one side of the same coin......actually americans should really just toss for who becomes next president instead of the wasted money and time on bullshit speeches.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 05:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Steve-32-uk

    http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-06-03/falkland-islanders-prepare-10m-high-jubilee-beacon-bonfire/

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 08:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cLOHO

    Yep Poms are what our australian friends call us, we call yanks Seppo's as in septic tank. and yank or Seppo's call us Limeys . at least we don't have any 'we saved your ass in ww2' yanks on this forum , that really gets my goat.
    There was no huge rescue mission to save gb, we fought from 1939 to 1941 with no Us help, the uk had to pay cash for any Us arms during this period , they even sent a US warship to South Africa to pick up the last dribbles of our gold reserves. no help during battle of britain, or help when facing invasion!
    but once the Us fleet was bombed at pearl and Germany declared war on US they did along with Ussr win the war thru emense supplies of materials and men. And put Europe first so cheers for that, but Hollywood history sometimes enhances the saved ass myth.
    I do think the yanks are a nice bunch and generally do things for good.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 10:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    16 brit abroad

    AmericanLight (or should it be AmericanLite) is in fact a male who was born in Argentina and moved to the USA when quite young (9 I think) and has only been back three times (he says).

    If he were really an imbued American he would disparagingly call Brits 'Limeys' or 'Limies', whatever their mongrel version of 'english' dictates, most certainly not poms.

    Being a lapsed Argentinian, he has no concept of public service - the very thing that endears Her Majesty to her subjects. He would rather have an elected politician with no manners or respect for other countries, except when they have invaded them. Have you noticed that it is all different then? The two Bushes and Obarmy - just the same.

    He tells us that he has a BS in physics from some obscure place I had never heard of, but that could just be BS.

    I am afraid that the old saying 'once and Argie, always an Argie' holds true.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    4 let us see if that other nation (Scotland) prefers to go its own way.
    Then you will have to re plan the Union Jack. Ohh dear!

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 01:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brit Bob

    20 Argentine Sunshine

    The latest YouGov poll suggests that only 32% of those eligible to vote in Scotland would vote for independence.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JohnN

    Constitutional monarchies, mostly in Commonwealth, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Japan, etc, tend to cluster together at the top of the UN Human Development Index, Freedom Index, and in the low-corruption ranking of the Corruption Perception Index.

    While such correlation is not necessarily causation, it does suggest that a constitutional monarchy doesn't impede the expression of progressive social and political values.

    Biggest threat to such stability is not in democratic republican systems such as US, France, Germany, but rather in the Marxist-Leninist dogma that appears to infect far-left fringes in many countries, and in some countries through specific historical development, such fringe thinking seems to take over and potentially lead to emergence of counter-tyrannies.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Xect

    Ah Aussie sunshine one of my favorite Argentine trolls.

    And there's AmericanLight another Argentine troll, maybe he's so keen to quote the first amendment because there is nothing like freedom of speech in Argentina? Just ask the economists!

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @4 - aussiesunshine.

    If the Scottish truly want to go it alone no one will stop them. However, most Scottish people are not going to vote to cede fom the Union, a Union that was forged because Scotland had bankrupted itself, because economically it would be suicide.

    Not only that but many of the islands around Scotland; such as the Shetlands, Orkneys and Skye; have already made comments that if Scotland cedes from the Union they won't, they'll remain as part of the Union. This means that Scotland itself may become divided.

    Added to this is that if Scotland cedes from the UK, they also cede from the EU and would have to rejoin. Spain has stated that they would veto an independent Scotland from joining, which would leave Scotland out in the cold from an economic point of view. Since they couldn't use the Euro as currency, they would have to retain sterling, which means that the Bank of England would set their interest rates etc... So basically they wouldn't gain any benefit from ceding from the Union.

    Also, the SNP have said only Scottish people resident in Scotland are eligible to vote, so they're trying to tip the balance in their favour by disavowing all Scottish people having the right to vote, just because they happen to live and work in other parts of the Union. Hardly fair and democratic is it?

    However, back to the story.

    I'm just watching some of the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations on the TV. It's raining, but everyone involved in the river pageant appears to be enjoying themselves, especially Her Majesty.

    Well done Ma'am, long may you reign.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 03:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Room101

    14.
    Magna Carta

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 04:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • THOR94

    @14 AmericanLight (#) An amendment that spoke of liberty, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness for all......signed by men who profited off of slavey and had many slaves.....In a country that had to have a civil war to end slavery......and didn't recognise blacks as equals until the 60's,.....even black war heroes were treated worse than German POWs.....

    Wow, you've taught the world a new meaning of Democracy.......

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PirateLove

    Excellent celebrations world wide for the Queen, well deserved.

    GOD SAVE THE QUEEN...

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 05:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    14 AmericanLight
    you are intitled to your opinion,
    but to insult the british queen, [from an american]
    is off the track,

    sticks and stones, mr red neck, sticks and stone,
    .............................
    thank you all for coming to our defence,
    long live the queen,

    60 years of dedication , diligence and loyalyty ,
    thank you

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 06:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JohnN

    Our Queen: “began her reign advising, warning and consulting a prime minister who received his army commission from Queen Victoria. Today, she deals with a man who was two years below her youngest son at prep school.”
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9307107/The-monarchy-is-doing-fine-the-problem-is-the-oligarchy.html

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 06:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Leiard

    Great celebrations, 1.2 million people even with the bad weather.
    Supported by the Commonwealth of Nations - yes all 54 of them!

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    In the extreme South Atlantic the Falkland Islands beacon (a bonfire) will be lit at 18:00hrs on Monday 04June, on Surf Bay, a long white sand beach directly to the East of Stanley. The beacon is being constructed on 300 wooden pallets.
    The island of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, with only 262 inhabitants, will have the world’s most exotic beacon, and Saint Helena will be lighting five beacons to form a diamond shape.
    The celebrations will light up the world, with beacons lit in the Overseas Territories in the Pacific, Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans and the Caribbean Sea.

    Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham said “we are delighted that so many of the Overseas Territories are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with events both in London and the Territories. The fact that the Overseas Territories are playing such a full role is recognition of their close relationship with the Queen and the UK. Involving them in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations is part of our strategy of reinvigorating our relationship with the Overseas Territories”.

    .the world is enjoying.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 07:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    She is the foundation on which this country is built on. It is like Cameron said, she has 60 years of experience, 60 years! you do not get that from an elected head of state! She has seen it all during her reign, nothing phases her. As for the so called REPUBLICAN demonstration, nothing more than small bunch of farts in a storm, literally.

    God Save the Queen. may she reign for many more years.

    Jun 03rd, 2012 - 08:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @10 You are welcome to your view. But then you've never known anything better, have you?
    @14 Just as a matter of interest, why the first amendment? Why wasn't it in the original?
    @20 Not really the Union “Jack”. It's the Union Flag. It is only properly called the Union Jack when it is flying from the jackstaff of a British vessel.
    @32 The United Kingdom and the United States are very different countries. For example, consider how many organisations in the UK begin with “Her Majesty's”! Her Majesty promised, at the time of her accession, that she would devote the rest of her life to her people. She has kept her promise. Is there any politician, because that's what the American president is, say the same? For the sake of anyone that was unable to watch the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, Her Majesty, at 86 years of age, stood throughout the 2 hours. What a wonderful woman!

    Jun 04th, 2012 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JohnN

    33 Conqueror: Re: Union Jack. aussiesunshine may not have taken into account that it would be the flag as used in the UK, not as in Australia. In other Commonwealth countries where application to British ships would not be applicable, including Australia, it seems that currently, its Union Jack, but alternatively Union Flag (http://www.anbg.gov.au/oz/flag-union.html), similar to Canada (http://www.anbg.gov.au/oz/flag-union.html),

    Jun 04th, 2012 - 03:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    The CROSS OF ST ANDREW would disappear from the Union Jack if The Scotts decided to go there own way! would it not??

    Jun 05th, 2012 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Who GAF about aussie raincloud and the rest of the Argie trolls?

    Even the deluded Blind_Scottie_Kirchnerist does not want the Union to be disbanded, and why? See 24 LEPRecon which covered it succintly.

    Jun 05th, 2012 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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