Queen’s Birthday Party: Wednesday 27 th April 2016

Tricia and I were honoured to attend the birthday party to celebrate the 90^th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen held in the lovely British Embassy Garden in the heart of Manama. Combining this year with the celebrations of the 200 year relationship between the UK and Bahrain, this was a special occasion.   Just outside the gates of the Embassy was a Spitfire -Bahrain contributed money that bought 10 Spitfires for use in World War II that carried the colours of Bahrain – and one of the National Express red buses that have transformed Bahrain’s public transport system in the past year. A small contingent of Royal Marine bandsmen were present and added to the occasion with a Sunset ceremony and the lowering of the Union Jack at the conclusion of the event. HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa was the guest of honour and spoke very graciously of all that he had learnt at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth of Her Majesty’s values expressed in public service of the nation and the importance of the historic relationship between the two nations.