Royal tours of Jamaica
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Since her coronation in 1953, Her Majesty visited Jamaica every decade until the early 2000s. Her Royal Tours saw her visiting Jamaica in 1953, 1966, 1975, 1983, 1994 and 2002, where she participated in Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, and many sittings of the Houses of Parliament on such occasions. Undoubtedly, she formed a special bond with the people of Jamaica during her reign, and her visits were met with warm welcome and an outpouring of affection.[1]
Royal tours of Jamaica by Jamaica's royal family have been taking place since the 20th century. Elizabeth II, Queen of Jamaica (r. 1962–2022), visited the island six times; in 1953, 1966, 1975, 1983, 1994, and 2002.
Other members of the royal family have also paid visits.
1950s
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 Queen Tours Jamaica (1953)Source: British Pathé. |
Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Jamaica was in November 1953.[2] A crowd of more than 250,000 welcomed her. She and her husband drove 120 miles across the country in the sun, to meet Jamaicans from all parts of the island.[3]
I have seen in the faces of Jamaicans how much the love of your Island home means to you. I am certain that your resolution to work for the future of your country and your children will bring added strength and new prosperity, not only to Jamaica, but to all the British West Indies.[4]
Princess Margaret visited Jamaica in 1955, to attend the island's Tercentenary celebrations. During the tour, the Princess opened a new hospital at Morant Bay, which was named in her honour.[5]
1960s
At Jamaica's independence celebrations in 1962, the Queen was represented by her sister Princess Margaret, where she opened the first session of the Parliament of Jamaica on behalf of The Queen.[6][7]
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The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Jamaica for a four-day visit in March 1966.[2][8] They attended a civic reception in Charles Square, Montego Bay, and visited Doctor Cave Beach, Lucea Square, among other places.[9] It was during this visit that the Queen adopted a personal Jamaican flag in her role as Jamaica's Queen, to fly on all occasions when she is present in Jamaica. The flag was used by her on subsequent visits.[10][11]
The same year the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by elder children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, toured Jamaica as part of his visit there to open the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston.[12]
1970s
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited in April 1975, coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kingston.[2] Most of her visit was spent granting audiences to the Commonwealth Heads of Government. In the morning of 27 April, the Queen declared open the Norman Manley Law School, the first law school in the West Indies.[13] The five-day royal visit came to an end on 30 April, when the Queen and the Duke left Jamaica from the Norman Manley International Airport.[14]
1980s
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Jamaica from 13 to 16 February 1983,[15] during which the Queen opened the Jamaican Parliament in the 21st anniversary year of independence.[2]
The Queen and the Duke arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on 13 February, and were accorded a grand welcome by a huge crowd which was descired as "one of the largest ever to turn out" for any head of state in Jamaican history.[16] The Queen was greeted by a 21-gun salute, and she inspected an honor guard of the Jamaica Defense Force, and was welcomed by members of her Jamaican government.[17] Many Jamaicans lined the streets in a continuous display of affection from the airport to King's House.[16]
Jamaica and her people occupy a special place in our affections, for Prince Philip and I, and other members of our family have always received here a warmth of welcome which has only been rivalled by that of your famous sunshine. I am therefore delighted to be with you, as Queen of Jamaica to join in your celebration of twenty-one years of nationhood.[18]
On 14 February, the Queen addressed the Jamaican Parliament at a joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and praised Jamaicans on making progress towards economic recovery. The Queen and the Duke laid a wreath at the War Memorial in National Heroes Park, Kingston.[16] A special colourful cultural display, "Jamaica 21 Salute" was presented to the Queen at the National Stadium. The show featured Jamaica's history up to the present, before a large crowd totalling more than 25,000. In the evening, a dinner banquet was hosted by Governor-General Glasspole in the Queen's honour at King's House.[16]
On 15 February, the Queen unveiled a plaque and planted a tree on the campus of the College of Arts, Science and Technology in Kingston, and received a warm welcome from hundreds of spectators and children from surrounding schools. The Queen opened the interim headquarters of the International Seabed Authority at Port Royal and Church streets in downtown Kingston, and later paid a flying visit to Montego Bay and were welcomed by thousands of Jamaicans.[16] The mayor of Montego Bay, Shalman Scott, addressed the Queen, and said "The thousands of people present here today speak eloquently of our appreciation of Her Majesty's visit". The Queen and Prince Philip also toured the historic Devon House.[16]
On 16 February, the Queen held an investiture ceremony, and later left Jamaica from the Norman Manley International Airport. The airport was decorated with the flags of the members of the then-47 Commonwealth countries, planted in the airport's fenced, well-manicured lawn.[16]
1990s
Anne, Princess Royal, visited in October 1990 as international patron of the University of the West Indies.[19]
In 1994, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Jamaica from 1–3 March during a tour of the Caribbean. Preparations for the visit began early, with public buildings repainted, and public places decorated. The Queen was greeted by schoolchildren everywhere around the island. Many people, mostly women, including curious onlookers, office and factory workers, also turned out to meet them. The Queen laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in National Heroes Park in Kingston. At Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, the Queen met representatives of voluntary organisations, ex-servicemen's organisations, and the media. A dinner banquet was held in King's House in the Queen's honour in the evening of 1 March, which was followed by a return dinner by the Queen the next day on HMY Britannia. The Queen visited the Laws Street Trade Training Centre, the Holy Family Primary School, a T-shirt factory in Montego Bay, the University of the West Indies. The Queen and the Duke also attended a Trooping of the Colour of the Second Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment at Up Park Camp. The Queen also visited the Jamaican Parliament, where she gave a speech which was prepared by her Jamaican Government. In her address, the Queen said that Jamaicans have built a "stable and democratic society, racial and religious tolerance, and bontiful and beautiful land". Governor-General Cooke held a Garden Party in Montego Bay, and a lunch was hosted there by Prime Minister Patterson. During the visit, Prince Philip also distributed the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Gold Award winners.[20][21]
A special 500-dollar gold coin was struck to mark the royal visit, and it was presented to the Queen by the Government and People of Jamaica.[22]
