The Cayman Islands will celebrate Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday on Saturday, 13 June 2015, with customary pomp and circumstance.

A parade by the uniformed services will precede a brief ceremony at the Legislative Assembly recognising past and current recipients of Queen’s Honours and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Afterwards officials and members of the public will travel to Government House for the annual garden party.

British Empire Medal (BEM) recipient, Leonard Hew, is set to collect his award on Saturday, from Her Excellency, the Governor Helen Kilpatrick. Mr Hew is the first Caymanian to receive the BEM since 1993. The award was recently reintroduced by the United Kingdom Government following a lengthy hiatus.

The Governor will also make presentations to six Gold Award winners from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme. Recipients include: Samantha Mascarenhas, Adam Jackson and David Terry, as well as Sergeant Antanika Ebanks, 2nd Lieutenant Natalie Williams and Lieutenant Corporal Joseph Burey of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps.

Deputy Governor, Hon Franz Manderson, will then announce the names of those who have received 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

While Saturday’s celebrations start at 9.00 a.m., official guests should be seated by 8:30 a.m. Covered seating will also be available to members of the public. The wet weather venue will be George Town, Town Hall.

A garden party on the front lawn of Government House will immediately follow the ceremony at 10.15 a.m. It is open to the public, and there will be musical entertainment, food and drink.

Officials note that a dress code of semi-formal day dress will be enforced. Hats are optional. Inappropriately dressed persons, wearing as an example shorts, tank tops or swimwear, will not be allowed on the property.

Protocol Coordinator Meloney Syms urges members of the public to come out to all events and bring their families.

“It is an opportunity for us to come together as a country to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. There will be lots of music and colour and refreshments. We have planned a really enjoyable day for residents of all ages”, Ms Syms states.

WHO:                        The Protocol Office

WHAT:                       Queen’s Birthday Parade and Garden Party

WHEN:                     Saturday, 13 June 2015, 9.00am

WHERE:                   The parade and ceremony take place at the Legislative Assembly. The garden party will be held on the front lawn of Government House immediately afterward (10.15am).

PARTICIPANTS:       Her Excellency the Governor Helen Kilpatrick, the Premier, Hon Alden

McLaughlin, the Deputy Governor Hon Franz Manderson, senior government officials, Queen’s Honours recipients, Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award recipients, uniformed services contingents etc.

BACKGROUND:         The parade, presentation ceremony and garden party mark the official 89th birthday celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Media are asked to dress appropriately. Please see attached press release for further details.