King's Official Birthday
King's Official Birthday | |
---|---|
Also called | King's Birthday, Victoria Day (in Canada) |
Observed by | Australia, Belize, Canada, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, United Kingdom |
Type | Varies by region |
Significance | Official celebration of the sovereign's birthday |
Date | Varies by region |
Frequency | Annual |
The King's Official Birthday is the selected day in most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those countries. It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the monarch's actual birth.
The sovereign's birthday was first officially marked in the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1748, for King George II. Since then, the date of the king or queen's birthday has been determined throughout the British Empire and, later, the Commonwealth of Nations, either by royal proclamations issued by the sovereign or viceroy, or by statute laws passed by the local parliament.
The date of the celebration today varies as adopted by each country and is generally set around the end of May or start of June, to coincide with a higher probability of fine weather in the Northern Hemisphere for outdoor ceremonies. In most cases, it is an official public holiday, sometimes aligning with the celebration of other events. Most Commonwealth realms release a Birthday Honours list at this time.
Australia
Most Australian states and territories observe the King's Birthday on the second Monday in June, except in
Norfolk Island celebrates Bounty Day on 8 June, so King's Birthday is held on the Monday after the second Saturday in June.[6] Christmas Island has other holidays and does not hold a King's Birthday holiday at all.[7]
The day has been celebrated since 1788, when
The King's Birthday weekend and
Belize
Belize celebrates the birthday of the King annually in May. The day is known as Sovereign's Day, and is marked by parades in Belize City.[11] Horse races, conducted by the National Sports Council, are held in Belize City's National Stadium and Orange Walk Town's People's Stadium. A cycling race, also arranged by the National Sports Council, is held between the cities of Belmopan and Cayo. There is a flag-raising ceremony among other events held at schools and universities to commemorate Sovereign's Day.[12][13][14]
Canada
It was in 1845 that the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada passed a statute to authorise the recognition of Queen Victoria's birthday, 24 May, as a public holiday.[16][17] After Victoria died in 1901, 24 May became Victoria Day[17] and the official date in Canada of the reigning monarch's birthday changed through various royal proclamations: for Edward VII, it continued by yearly proclamation to be observed on 24 May, but, was 3 June for George V and 23 June for Edward VIII (their actual birthdays).
The first official birthday of
Though the holiday was called Sovereign's Birthday,[17] the 1957 proclamation itself designated the day as "the Queen's birthday". As such, in May 2023, following the accession of Charles III as King of Canada, the King proclaimed "the celebration in Canada of the birthday of the sovereign to be Victoria Day",[22] thus applying the official birthday to all future monarchs, regardless of gender.
The two holidays are in law entirely distinct except for being appointed to be observed on the same day; it is a general holiday in Nunavut[23] and New Brunswick (there prescribed as a day of rest on which retail businesses must be closed[24]). Though the media mention only Victoria Day and the public are therefore almost totally unaware of the existence of the official birthday, the sovereign's official birthday is marked by the firing of an artillery salute in the national and provincial capitals and the flying of the Royal Union Flag on buildings belonging to the federal Crown, if there is a second flag pole available.[25][26]
The Canadian monarch has been in Canada for his or her official birthday twice: The first time was 20 May 1939, when King George VI was on a coast-to-coast tour of Canada and his official birthday was celebrated with a
New Zealand
Until 1936, New Zealand celebrated the actual birthday of the sovereign.[31] After Edward VIII abdicated on 11 December 1936, and George VI was proclaimed king on his birthday, 14 December, two King's Birthday holidays were celebrated that year.[32] The second holiday that year caused some industrial confusion and loss.[32][33][34] This led the government to introduce the Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1937. It set the official birthday to be the first Monday in June (which it has been to this day), and this was first observed in 1937. The legislation was changed after Elizabeth II became Queen through the Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1952. Although that act makes reference to "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second",[35] it was still in place in 2023, the first time that New Zealand observed the King's Birthday for Charles III.[36] The Holidays Act 2003 refers to the holiday as "the birthday of the reigning Sovereign".[37]
King's Birthday celebrations are mainly official, including the King's Birthday Honours list and military ceremonies.
Papua New Guinea
The King's Official Birthday is a public holiday in Papua New Guinea. In Papua New Guinea, it is usually celebrated on the second Monday of June every year. Official celebrations occur at hotels in Port Moresby, and much of the day is filled with sports matches, fireworks displays, and other celebrations and events. Honours and medals are given for public service to Papua New Guineans, who are mentioned in the King's Birthday Honours List.[44]
Solomon Islands
The King's Official Birthday is a public holiday in Solomon Islands. In Solomon Islands, it is usually celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year.[45] It is regarded as one of the most important events of the year in Solomon Islands. The day starts with the police marching band performing in the capital city of Honiara. Rallies are held all over the islands, which is followed by sporting events and custom dancing, and the celebrations and parties go long into the night.[46][47][48]
The
Tuvalu
The King's Official Birthday is a public holiday in Tuvalu. In Tuvalu, it is usually celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year.[52][53] Tuvaluans celebrate it with church services and prayers, singing "God Save the King" and "Tuvalu mo te Atua", flag hoisting, public speeches, a Royal Salute, and a parade. As the King's Birthday is a public holiday, all government offices, educational institutions, and most businesses are closed for the day.[54][55][56]
As of 2021[update], Tuvaluans also celebrated the birthday of
United Kingdom
The monarch's birthday has been celebrated in the United Kingdom since 1748, during the reign of King George II.[citation needed] Even when their real birthday was in May or June, the celebration was often on a different date. Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910 and whose birthday was on 9 November, moved his official birthday to summer, in the hope of good weather. King George VI, born on 14 December, celebrated his official birthday from 7 to 12 June. Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday was (usually) the second Saturday in June.[58][59] King Charles III's first official birthday was on 17 June 2023, the third Saturday in June;[60] and his second on 15 June 2024, also the third Saturday in June.[61]
The day is marked in London by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour, which is also known as the King's Birthday Parade.[62] The list of Birthday Honours is also announced at the time of the Official Birthday celebrations.[63] In British diplomatic missions, the day is treated as the national day of the United Kingdom. Although it is not celebrated as a specific public holiday in the UK, some civil servants are given a "privilege day" at this time of year, which is sometimes merged with the Spring bank holiday (last Monday in May) to create a four-day weekend. The King's birthday is the last remaining privilege day, the other 1.5 days having been abolished in 2014 and replaced by a 1.5 day increase in civil servants' annual leave.[64]
Parts of Scotland also mark Queen Victoria's birthday on the last Monday before or on 24 May.[65]
British Overseas Territories
The King's official birthday is a public holiday in most British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha and the Turks and Caicos Islands.[66] Bermuda formerly marked the occasion with a public holiday but in 2008 the Progressive Labour Party government of the territory decided the day would be, beginning the following year, replaced by National Heroes' Day,[67] despite protests from some residents of the island, who signed a petition calling for retention of The King's Official Birthday.[68] The Queen's Official Birthday continues, nonetheless, to be marked by a public parade on Front Street in the City of Hamilton,[69][70] and by a Queen's Birthday Party at Government House.[71] The Falkland Islands celebrate the actual day of King Charles III's birth, 14 November, as a public holiday.[72] (November is a spring month in the southern hemisphere where the islands are located).
-
Queen's Birthday Parade, in the City of Hamilton, Bermuda, in 2000
-
Colour party of the Royal Bermuda Regiment at Queen's Birthday Parade in the City of Hamilton, Bermuda, on 10 June 2017[73]
-
A reception for the public hosted by Jersey's Lieutenant Governor at Government House in 2005 to mark the Queen's Official Birthday and to name recipients of Birthday Honours
Other Commonwealth countries
In Saint Kitts and Nevis, the date of the King's Official Birthday is set each year.[74] The Cook Islands, a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, also celebrates the holiday on the second Monday of June.
Despite Fiji abolishing the monarchy in 1987, following a second military coup d'état, the Queen's Birthday continued to be celebrated each 12 June until 2012. That year, the military government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced the holiday would be abolished, despite being a monarchist himself.[75]
See also
- Day of the Sun (North Korea)
- Grand Duke's Official Birthday (Luxembourg)
- King's Feast (Belgium)
- Koningsdag (Netherlands)
- The Emperor's Birthday (Japan)
References
- ^ "Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, Labour Relations division". Docep.wa.gov.au. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Regional dates for the Queen's Birthday public holiday". Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Holiday double treat for Queen's big year". Brisbane Times. Australian Associated Press. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "Public holidays". Queensland Government. 7 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Queensland Labour Day moved to May, Queen's Birthday to October". Brisbane Times. Australian Associated Press. 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ Queen's Birthday Holidays
- ^ 2020 Public Holidays, Christmas Island
- ^ "Advertising". The Queanbeyan Age. NSW: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "Cracker down: ACT bans fireworks". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "Announcing and Presenting Awards". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Public and Bank Holidays, 2022 (Updated)". Government of Belize Press Office. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Holidays Act" (PDF). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ISBN 9781581578522
- ^ "Sovereign's Day". Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Jefferys, Charles W., Militia Training on the King's Birthday, C.W. Jefferys Online Catalogue, retrieved 23 March 2023
- ^ An Act to provide for the Management of the Customs and of matters relative to the Collection of the Provincial Revenue, S.Prov.C. 1845, c. 4, s. 9
- ^ a b c d e Department of Canadian Heritage (16 October 2017). "Culture, history, and sport > Important and commemorative days > Victoria Day/Sovereign's Birthday". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada (2007), The Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Queen's Printer for Canada, p. 573, archived from the original on 16 April 2012, retrieved 14 August 2012
- ^ "Victoria Day". Holidays Act. Queen's Printer for Canada. 12 December 1988.
- ^ Elizabeth II (5 February 1957), Parliament of Canada (ed.), "A Proclamation" (PDF), Canada Gazette, Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2022, retrieved 7 May 2015
- ^ Elizabeth II (11 October 1957), Proclaimed for Celebration of Queen's Birthday (PDF), Queen's Printer for Canada, retrieved 24 May 2011
- ^ Charles III (12 May 2023), "Proclamation Fixing Victoria Day as the Day for the Celebration in Canada of the Birthday of the Sovereign", Canada Gazette, King's Printer for Canada, SI/2023-15, retrieved 26 May 2023
- ^ "Labour Standards Act, RSNWT (Nu) 1988, c L-1". Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ "Employment Standards Be Informed: Paid Public Holidays and Vacation/Vacation Pay" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ "Victoria Day – The Queen's Official Birthday in Canada". Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Government of Canada (8 May 2018). "Foreign flags in Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ISBN 1-55002-065-X. Archivedfrom the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion> Victoria Day> Observance in Canada of the Sovereign's Birthday". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ Department of Canadian Heritage. "Topics > Monarchy in Canada > 2012 Royal Tour > 2012 Royal Tour Itinerary". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Janus, Andrea (20 May 2014). "Being a grandfather puts world's challenges 'in sharper focus': Prince Charles". CTV. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "The King's Birthday". Northern Advocate. 23 June 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via Papers Past (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).
... [T]he King's Birthday, which is being celebrated today, falls upon June 23. ... For 25 years the people of the British Empire set apart June 3 as a day on which to honour the birthday of King George V.
- ^ a b "Holiday on Monday - New King's Birthday". Evening Post. Vol. CXXII, no. 141. 11 December 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via Papers Past (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).
- ^ "State Mine Idle". Ashburton Guardian. Vol. 57, no. 61. Press Association. 21 December 1936. p. 5. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via Ppers Past (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).
- ^ "Manufacturers Want to Shift King's Birthday". Manawatu Times. Vol. 61, no. 302. Press Association. 22 December 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via Papers Past (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).
- ^ "Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1952 No 13 (as at 30 August 1952), Public Act". www.legislation.govt.nz. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Swarbrick, Nancy (19 April 2023). "Public holidays – Celebrating imperial ties". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Holidays Act 2003 No 129 (as at 01 December 2022), Public Act 44 Days that are public holidays". www.legislation.govt.nz. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Rudman, Brian (7 June 2010). "Clear signal from Her at the Palace". The New Zealand Herald.
- Scoop.co.nz. 22 June 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
- Scoop.co.nz. 29 May 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
- ^ Devlin, Collette (7 June 2018). "Wellington Mayor and MP support Matariki replacing Queen's Birthday holiday". Stuff. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Matariki public holiday passes into law". Radio New Zealand. 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "Call to rename Queen's birthday to Hillary weekend?". TVNZ. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday 2022, 2023 and 2024 in Papua New Guinea". publicholidays.asia. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ISBN 9780954962944
- ISBN 9780864424051
- ^ "Queen's Birthday Solomon Islands". publicholidays.asia. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Solomon Islands Celebrates the Queen's Birthday". aglobalworld.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday Speech to be broadcasted". Solomon Islands Government. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Sir David sent well-wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". sibconline.com.sb. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ISBN 9780028649467
- ISBN 9780954962944
- ^ "PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT" (PDF). Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "TUVALU COMMEMORATES 2018'S QUEEN BIRTHDAY". KMT News. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Official Birthday in Tuvalu". Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Some glimpses of celebrations: [1], [2], [3].
- ^ "Tuvalu". royal.uk. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "The Queen's Birthday". royal.uk.
- ^ The Times 9 November 1908 published the King's Birthday Honours list, apparently the first occasion of such awards. The lists were subsequently published on the monarch's official birthday in June (occasionally May)
- ^ Ng, Kate (22 December 2022). "King Charles III's official birthday date revealed for Trooping the Colour 2023". The Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Trooping The Colour – The King's Day Birthday Parade". The King's Birthday Parade. 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
His Majesty's actual birthday is 14th November. The Sovereign's official birthday is marked by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour, which this year falls on Saturday 15th June 2024.
- ^ Jones, Tony (4 June 2021). "Queen's official birthday to be marked with military parade at Windsor". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-9720228-8-0.
- ^ "SG DMS Recruitment FAQ's". Civil Service Jobs. British Government. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "From Scotland with love: Queen Victoria". Royal Central. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Oct 2004 (pt 19)". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "National Heroes' holiday is in June". The Royal Gazette. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Bermuda ditches Queen's Birthday public holiday". Stuff (company). Reuters. 17 April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday Parade Advisory". Government of Bermuda. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
The public is advised that the annual Queen's Birthday Parade will take place Saturday morning (10 June 2017) along Front Street, Hamilton.
The parade gets underway at 10.30 a.m. and as a result, the public is advised that there will be traffic restrictions in place starting early Saturday morning.
The public is encouraged to come out and view the event which will feature the pomp and pageantry of the marching units from The Royal Bermuda Regiment, The Royal Bermuda Regiment Band & Corps of Drums, Bermuda Police Service and Bermuda Police Reserves, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, Royal Bermuda Regiment Junior Leaders and the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps. - ^ "Queen's Birthday Parade Advisory". Government of Bermuda. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
The public is advised that the annual Queen's Birthday Parade will take place Saturday morning (9 June) along Front Street, Hamilton.
The parade gets underway at 10:30 a.m. and as a result, the public is advised that there will be traffic restrictions in place starting early Saturday morning.
The public is encouraged to come out and view the event which will feature the pomp and pageantry of the marching units from The Royal Bermuda Regiment, Royal Bermuda Regiment Band & Corps of Drums, Bermuda Police Service and Bermuda Police Reserves, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, Royal Bermuda Regiment Junior Leaders and the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps. - ^ "Queen's Birthday Party 2019". Government of Bermuda. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
This year the Queen's Birthday Party will be held at Government House on Thursday, 6 June between 6 and 8 pm. The Governor invites anyone interested in attending this event to complete the online entry form, the link for which can be found on the Government House portal page and FaceBook page. The link will be active from 12 noon on Wednesday, 27 March 2019 until 12 noon on Friday, 19 April 2019.
Government House first opened up the process for obtaining an invitation to the Queen's Birthday Party in 2015 and the enthusiastic response received from the general public since then has been a deciding factor in the return of the process for this year's event.
The Governor said: "Last year I was delighted to meet many of the people who were successful in their applications to receive an invitation to the 2018 Queen's Birthday Party. It was exciting to welcome them to Government House and to have the opportunity to share this special event with them."
We are once again inviting those who would like to attend this year's Queen Birthday Party to complete the online entry form. Sadly, the numbers can't be unlimited but we shall make as many of the invitations as possible available to those applying. This will be an occasion to celebrate Her Majesty's Birthday and to enjoy the Gardens of Government House and the Band of the Royal Bermuda Regiment." - ^ "Falklands appoints 14 November as a Public Holiday, to celebrate birthday of King Charles III". MercoPress. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ Johnston-Barnes, Owain (9 June 2017). "Queen's Birthday Parade this Saturday". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, Bermuda. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Culture". St Kitts & Nevis. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- NewstalkZB. 31 July 2012. Archivedfrom the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
External links
- BBC News article of 2001 about the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in the UK
- The Queen's Birthday at the Royal Family website