Celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s birthday

RAIN did not dampen the festive mood at the British High Commissioner’s residence in posh Jalan Langgak Golf, Kuala Lumpur, as over 500 turned up to toast to the good health of the former Queen of Malaya and British Borneo.

“Today we celebrate the Queen’s official birthday although her actual birthday is April 21. King Edward VII, whose birthday is in November, chose sunny June for his official birthday in order to celebrate in warmer, drier conditions. Exactly 110 years later and in a different continent, one is tempted to question King Edward’s decision!” observed Simon Featherstone as the crowd roared in laughter as the rain poured outside.

“We are also using this occasion, for the second time, to mark Armed Forces Day in honour of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.” This explains why there were many men in military uniforms.

Featherstone and his wife Gail met Queen Elizabeth II twice recently. “The first was on April 20, the day before her 85th birthday. One of her first questions was whether many Malaysians still supported Manchester United. I replied the Yang diPertuan Agong, the Prime Minister and numerous others did, though this was admittedly before the Champions League final!” The guests burst into laughter again since Manchester United lost to Barcelona Football Club.

The second time the couple met Queen Elizabeth II was in May when he was awarded the CMB, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Featherstone was too modest to mention this but as he was proudly wearing his new medal, I asked for details which he had to diplomatically give. He declined to say why he deserved this honour but after some prying from his friends, was told that was mainly due to his hard work during the Shanghai World Expo last year. He was in charge of the UK Pavilion and was instrumental in its tremendous success as the UK Pavilion was among the top three favourites.

Featherstone also noted the presence of our King and Queen at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29. “We are particularly looking forward to Prime Minister’s Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to the UK next month as guest of the British Government which will include a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and an audience with the Queen.”

The British High Commissioner then invited the guest of honour Plantation Industries and Commo-dities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who represented the Malaysian Government, to toast to Queen Elizabeth II. Dompok duly did so and Julie Chan Nuo En of Alice Smith School sang God Save the Queen, the British national anthem.

Featherstone then offered a toast for the good health and wellbeing of Yang diPertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the success and prosperity of the government and people of Malaysia. Julie Chan again sang NegaraKu.

As if on cue, the rain spluttered to a stop as guests tucked in on the great British roast beef, fish and chips and many other delights. Among the more outstanding were guardsmen David Steed and Michael McMurty from the Irish Guards who braved the Malaysian humidity to wear their full uniform with bearskin hats.

Air Asia X sponsored their flight to Kuala Lumpur and other sponsors were Cold Storage, Tiger Beer, Grand Millennium, Johnnie Walker and O’Gourmet.