By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The Queen of England’s official birthday is celebrated by the British and Commonwealth Society (BCS) in Rio this Friday. April 21st 1926 was the actual day of HM Elizabeth II’s birth, and is still celebrated as such, but her official Birthday Parade in England takes place on either the first, second or third Saturday of June, this year falling on June 12th.
The reasoning is the notorious nature of the English weather. It was decided that the chances of better weather in June were considerable, and that for the Trooping of the Colour and associated Parade that take place in front of Buckingham Palace the new, fluid date was set.
Of course in Brazil it is less likely that the weather will have an impact on proceedings, the British and Commonwealth Society nonetheless follows suit with their celebrations, which this year take place slightly earlier than usual on Friday May 28th.
Jack Woodall, Editor of the BCS magazine The Umbrella explains the change in schedule; “Although traditionally held on one of the first Saturdays in June, exceptionally this year it will be held on the last Friday in May because of clashes with the American Society’s America’s Day celebration Saturday 29th May, the long Corpus Christi holiday weekend beginning 3 June and the England versus America World Cup football match on Saturday 12 June.”
The BCS took over the running of the event in Rio when the Embassies reluctantly made their relocation to Brasilia some time after it became the country’s capital city, continuing the expatriate community’s chance to celebrate together.
The British Consulate also began a midweek celebration, but with their focus on business links there remained a desire for a popular event, which the BCS have continued on an annual basis at the Jubilee Hall in Botafogo.
Jack Woodall is helping with the organization of the event, and outlined what guests can expect from the afternoon. “The Queen’s speech will be read out by the British Consul or a representative as is customary, and around two hundred people are expected to attend this year… music will be provided by David Chew, a celebrated cellist and Rio resident who himself has just received an OBE from Buckingham Palace, and a choral group led by Martin Hester.”
The emphasis is very much on celebrating the occasion for the ordinary British person living in Rio de Janeiro, but everyone is welcome, with entry taking the form of raffle tickets – one for members, two for non-members – costing R$25 each. First prize in the raffle is an international air ticket.
Food and drinks are provided, and it promises to be a quintessentially English occasion located at the Jubilee Hall behind the Anglican Church at number 99 Rua Real Grandeza in the heart of Botafogo. For more information or to make your reservation, please visit the BCS Web site.
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