The Tristan community celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on the 2nd June 2022 with a reception and the lighting of a beacon.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Report from Kelly Green with additional photos from Alex Wonner

Tristan da Cunha's Platinum Jubilee celebrations on the 2nd June 2022 started at 7:00pm with a reception at the Prince Philip Hall.

The speeches - photo: Alex Wonner

The opening of the Jubilee reception in Prince Philip Hall

The reception was opened with a speech from Acting Administrator Helene Jaumotte, followed by prayers and blessings for Her Majesty from St Mary's and St Joseph's Churches, let by the Rev Margret Van den Berg, and lay readers Carlene Glass-Green and Anne Green.

Helene Jaumotte Margaret Van den Berg
Acting Administrator Helene Jaumotte reads her opening speech, and Rev Margaret Van den Berg leads prayers and blessings along with island lay readers Carlene Glass Green and Anne Green

St Mary’s School Choir then sang the Song for the Commonwealth, 'A Life Lived in Grace', which had been written and composed specially by Lucy Keily, from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria. There was a Toast to Her Majesty the Queen and everyone sang the National Anthem

The children sing - photo: Alex Wonner

St Mary's School choir sings Children 'A Life Lived in Grace'

Everyone went outside at 9:15pm to see the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacon on the 1961 volcano. It being winter in the South Atlantic, people needed to wrap up well.

Jubilee beacon alight - via Chris Carnegy Jubilee beacon alight - Kelly Green
Two views of Tristan's Jubilee Beacon alight on the 1961 volcano

Afterwards, the community enjoyed the rest of the night with socialising and dancing. The Seven Seas girls did all the catering and decorating. The children also painted jubilee pictures.

Jubilee cake - photo: Kelly Green Jubilee cake - photo: Alex Wonner
The centrepiece of the celebrations, including a specially baked Platinum Jubilee cake

Buffet - photo: Alex Wonner

The buffet for the reception

Decoration and paintings - photo: Kelly Green

Wall decorations and paintings.

Party - photo: Alex Wonner

The party in full flow

Anyone watching Sky News at 8:40pm Tristan time may have been pleasantly surprised to see Conrad Glass - Tristan's policeman - being interviewed about the island's Jubilee celebrations.