Thursday, 25 January 2024

British Garden Parties 2024

 **For many Royals, attendance is often not announced ahead of time, so do expect the usual people, even if they aren't currently listed. **

There maybe additional garden parties hosted by a royal/couple for a specific cause or patronages milestone anniversary. 


May 
    Wednesday 8th
    • King's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
      • Hosted by: King Charles
      • Attending: 
        • Queen Camilla
        • Prince Edward & Duchess Sophie
        • Princess Anne
        • Duke & Duchess of Gloucester
    Wednesday 15th 
    • Creative Industries Garden Party 
      • Hosted by: King Charles
      • Attending:
        • Queen Camilla
        • Prince Edward
        • Duchess of Gloucester
    Friday 17th
    Tuesday 21st
    • King's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
      • Hosted by:  Prince William
      • Attending: 
        • Princess Beatrice
        • Princess Eugenie
        • Peter Phillips
        • Zara & Mike Tindall
        • Duke & Duchess of Gloucester
    Thursday 23rd 
    • 200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
      • Hosted by:  Princess Anne
      • Attending: 
        • Sir Tim

    July 
    Tuesday 2nd during Holyrood Week
    • King's Garden Party at Palace of Holyroodhouse
      • Hosted by:  King Charles 
      • Attending:
        • Queen Camilla
        • Prince Edward & Duchess Sophie

    Wednesday, 24 January 2024

    Jamaica - Process of Becoming a Republic

    Nadjé and Prince Charles
    King Charles (then Prince of Wales) in Jamaica in 2008
    Andrew Brown Detroit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    History: 

    In 1962,  Jamaica gains its independence from the UK, going from a British Colony to independent country with Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State/Monarch. (King Charles succeed her as King of Jamaica.)  When the committee in 1962 was creating Jamaica's new constitution, it considered Jamaica becoming a Republic from the start, but that was rejected. 

    In 1975, Jamaica's 3rd Prime Minister Michael Manley established a Committee on Constitutional Reform, which would look at a whole range of things related to the constitution, including becoming a republic. In 1977, Prime Minister Manley announced his intent that Jamaica become a republic by 1981. Manley was voted out of office before more serious steps could be taken. 

    Every Jamaican Prime Minister since then has supported the country becoming a Republic. Many have even announced deadlines for when they intent Jamaica to become a republic. But none have made serious steps toward that. While many support becoming a republic, the country lacks a 66% majority to pass the required constitutional change. 

    In March 2023, the Prime Minister formed a Constitutional Reform Committee to look into and propose changed to the constitution to drop the monarchy and become a republic. 

    Process: 

    The table shows the required steps for Jamaica to become a republic. (For other realms, the process may vary based on the countries specific laws/constitution in that country). 

    Just because a country begins the process doesn't mean they will succeed. Even if public support reaches 66% for the idea of republicanism, one hold up could be the proposed changes to the constitution (which was the possible fault for the 1999 referendum in Australia). 

    Step Process Status
    1 Constitutional Reform Committee
    (They will come up with the proposed
    changes to the constitution.)
    March 2023-May 2024
    Draft Report
    Full Report
    June 2024-  Present
    Draft Bill
    2a House of Representatives
    2/3s Majority (66%) Vote
    Waiting on Bill to be drafted
    2b Senate
    2/3s Majority (66%) Vote
    Waiting on Bill to be drafted
    3 2/3s Vote Public Referendum
    (Informal polls over last decade show
    public support between 45-59%)
    Can't happen until after
    successful vote in Parliament