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Who’s Who in British America: Sir Peter Westmacott

January 14th, 2012 No comments

As of this month, Sir Peter Westmacott is Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America. Sir Peter replaces Nigel Sheinwald, Ambassador since October 2007. [Read Sheinwald's departing words]

Westmacott was born in the village of Edington, Somerset in the South West of England in December 1950. He was educated at New College Oxford. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1972, and has extensive experience abroad with postings in Tehran, Brussels, Ankara, and Paris.

The new ambassador also has royal connections: in 1990, he was made Deputy Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales. Three years later, Westmacott was sent to Washington as a Counsellor. Later postings included Director for the Americas in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Deputy Under Secretary of State.

In 2002, Westmacott was appointed Ambassador to Turkey, where he served until 2006. The following year he was appointed as the Ambassador to France where he served until this month.

News From Our Friendly Neighborhood Embassy

September 30th, 2011 No comments
The Flag of the United Kingdom, the right way ...

Image via Wikipedia

UKTI Brings Multiplatform Mobile App Developers to Bay Area

The San Francisco UKTI MultiPlatform Mobile App Developer Mission welcomed 16 companies to San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Consul General visits Kentucky to highlight trade relationship with the UK

The Consul General’s three-day visit to Kentucky – his first since taking up his posting – included meetings with government officials, trade representatives and executives at Kentucky-based companies

 

Royal Marines train in Californian desert

For the past week, Royal Marines from 40 Commando have been training at a US Marine Corps facility in the searing heat of the Californian desert.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt MP visits Boston

The Minister visited Boston from September 25-26, focused on prosperity, security, and the UK-US special relationship.

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From Our Friendly Neighborhood Embassy

September 9th, 2011 No comments

News From Your Friendly Neighborhood Embassy

August 5th, 2011 No comments
The Flag of the United Kingdom, the right way ...

Image via Wikipedia

London Olympics: One year to go

IFS Student Investor Winners visit New York

Foreign Office releases figures on Brits in trouble overseas

 

via: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/

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William and Catherine Arrive in Canada

June 30th, 2011 No comments
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport June 30, 2011 in Ottawa. The Royal couple arrived in Canada on Thursday for their first official visit overseas as a married couple. REUTERS/Chris Jackson/Pool (CANADA – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY ROYALS)
Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottawa June 30, 2011. The newly married Royal Couple have arrived in Canada today for their first joint overseas tour. Ottawa is the start of a 12-day visit to North America which will take in some of the more remote areas of the country such as Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife and Calgary. The Royal couple will also join millions of Canadians to take part in tomorrow’s Canada Day celebrations which mark Canada’s 144th Birthday. REUTERS/Chris Jackson/Pool (CANADA – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ROYALS SOCIETY POLITICS)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is given flowers by Kellen Schleyer as she arrives at Ottawa’s Macdonald-Catier International Airport in Canada June 30, 2011. The Royal couple arrived in Canada on Thursday for their first official visit overseas as a married couple. REUTERS/Chris Jackson/Pool (CANADA – Tags: ROYALS SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT)
Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the National War Memorial in Ottawa June 30, 2011. The Royal couple arrived in Canada on Thursday for their first official visit overseas as a married couple. REUTERS/Blair Gable (CANADA – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS ROYALS)

The Queen in Ireland

May 23rd, 2011 No comments
IRELAND - MAY 20:  Queen Elizabeth II waves go...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Queen Elizabeth II has returned home from her historic visit to Ireland.

Her Majesty’s speech during her visit moved many, but her mere presence was what spoke the loudest. No British monarch has visited the shores of the Emerald Isle in 100 years. The last British sovereign to set foot on Irish soil was the Queen’s grandfather, King George V, who visited Ireland in 1911 with his consort, Queen Mary.

It is fitting, then, that the Queen should be the next monarch to visit the Republic of Éire. King George and Queen Mary had a profound effect on a young Elizabeth. Though no one knew it at the time, the training Princess Elizabeth received from her august grandparents would stand her in good stead as queen.

Dressed in green and smiling brightly, the Queen shook hands with Irish President Mary McAleese. President McAleese did not curtsy, which in my view is appropriate. To do so would have resulted in a tricky political issue at such an historic moment.

The Queen visited the Garden of Remembrance, the memorial garden in Dublin dedicated to the memory of “all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom”, where she laid a wreath; she toured the Guinness Storehouse; the National Stud at Kildare (of course!); and met with traders at the English Market in Cork.

The Queen also acknowledged the “sad and regrettable” mistakes of Britain’s relationship with Ireland during her state dinner in Dublin. Below, an excerpt of her speech:

‘A hUachtarain agus a chairde (President and friends).

Madam President, Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Ireland’s world-famous hospitality.

Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than just neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners.

….

The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.

There are other stories written daily across these islands which do not find their voice in solemn pages of history books, or newspaper headlines, but which are at the heart of our shared narrative. Many British families have members who live in this country, as many Irish families have close relatives in the United Kingdom.

These families share the two islands; they have visited each other and have come home to each other over the years. They are the ordinary people who yearned for the peace and understanding we now have between our two nations and between the communities within those two nations; a living testament to how much in common we have.

These ties of family, friendship and affection are our most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the partnership across these islands, a golden thread that runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we will go on to achieve.

They are a reminder that we have much to do together to build a future for all our grandchildren: the kind of future our grandparents could only dream of.

So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has served to make the relationship more harmonious, close as good neighbours should always be.

Good luck in Ireland today, President Obama. You have a tough act to follow.

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Historic Visit – An Irish View

Highlights of Queen Elizabeth II’s State visit to Ireland – RTÉ.ie

The Irish Independent’s Photo Gallery

Poll shows how Queen was taken to Irish hearts

Mutual respect between two states has soared to new high

The week that Anglophobia died

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Australia is a republic, according to 6th grade book

January 12th, 2011 2 comments

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