Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II with Ambassador Steven Fisher

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Last Tuesday the 5th of June 2012, as the official Diamond Jubilee celebrations in England were coming to a close, the Ambassador for the United Kingdom in the Dominican Republic, Steven Fisher hosted an elegant British-themed cocktail reception in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.  The sophisticated event which called for “traje formal“, was well attended by various other Ambassadors for the Dominican Republic, as well as many VIP guests from Santo Domingo and across the country and of course a fun contingent of British guests (myself included!) The occasion, celebrated in the Dominican Republic in the Hotel El Embajador in Santo Domingo, was as typically British as possible – with guests formally welcomed by Steven Fisher himself in a typically British “welcoming line” at the door (a British tradition most often seen at weddings) and some wonderful British food – mini “fish and chips”, bangers and mash (sausage and potato) and even dainty cucumber sandwiches!

Oh so British – Fish and chips served in a cone!

Following cocktails and nibbles, Ambassador Steven Fisher took to the stage to address and welcome his dignified guests in a funny speech, speckled with humurous references to British culture, such as “we are one of the only countries that can have that many people gathered around the palace and not panic!” (in reference to the vast crowd gathered for the celebrations), and in praise of the excellent British beer being served – “even the beer is aplatanado”, referring to the fact that the beer was served cold rather than warm as is typical in England (and that’s the way we like it thank you very much!)

At the end of the speech a toast was raised to the Queen and both the British and Dominican National anthems were performed.

“God save the Queen!”

Amongst the evening’s special VIP guests was the First Lady of the Dominican Republic Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, who on August 16th this year (el día de la restauración) will become Vice President of the Dominican Republic.

The First Lady of the Dominican Republic Margarita Cedeño de Fernández

For me, a “Brit” living in the Dominican Republic, the evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate my culture and our Queen and it was a great honor to share the special occasion with so many wonderful Dominican friends who loved the “aplatanado” British beer and the fish and chips! Many thanks to Ambassador Steven Fisher for inviting me to this wonderful event. God Save the Queen! The following selection of photos were taken during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee cocktail celebration hosted by the Ambassador for the United Kingdom in the Dominican Republic, Steven Fisher in Santo Domingo on June 5th 2012:

The Diamond Jubilee For those of you who are not British and have been wondering what all the fuss was about….. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was a multinational celebration throughout 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. She is today queen regnant of 16 sovereign states, 12 of which were British colonies or Dominions at the start of her reign. The Diamond Jubilee was not the Queen’s 60th birthday (she’s actually 86 years old) – although this was a common misconception and actually quiet understandable if you are not British – I after all still have much to learn about Dominican history and culture! Source: wikipedia.org