A reader today makes a very valid point: on 9 September, Queen Elizabeth becomes Britain’s longest ever serving monarch, but no mention of an event on Majorca to celebrate. Why? The Queen’s birthday is usually marked with a series of functions including an official birthday party hosted by our Consul General Andrew Gwatkin. Andrew has fought long and hard to maintain this event in the face of government spending cuts and therefore I feel that we as the English-speaking community on the island should do something to mark this important milestone. One of my first jobs for this newspaper was covering the one and only visit by the British monarch to this island in October 1988. It was a fantastic occasion which I still remember. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh sailed into Palma aboard the royal yacht Britannia and were greeted at the quayside by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. The Britannia looked absolutely fantastic. The British monarch stayed for about 24 hours on the island before heading to Madrid at the start of her official visit to Spain. So yes I think we should organise an event. The Bulletin can provide photographs of her visit and I would be more than willing to recount my tales of the royal visit. It is an important milestone and it is too important to miss. If anyone is interested in organising an event they can contact me at the Bulletin on jmoore@majorcadailybulletin.es.
Thank you.