Ambassador celebrates Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday with guests in Madrid
The British Ambassador in Spain, Simon Manley, and his wife María Isabel, hosted a party at their residence in Madrid last week to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The theme for the party was ‘Shakespeare Lives’, as 2016 also marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare.
The party, which should have been totally celebratory, started with a moving speech from the Ambassador informing those present of the murder earlier that day of British MPJo Cox, followed by a minute’s silence in her memory. Mr Manley then went on to comment on the themes of the evening, which he said were not only the Queen’s 90th birthday, but also a celebration of Shakespeare, and of the excellent relationship between Spain and Britain.
Entertainment for the almost 700 guests was provided by the Madrid-based group ‘Covers Music Box’, and by Shakespearean actors who not only greeted guests with a suitably Midsummer Night’s performance around the British mini parked at the entrance to the residence, but followed up with a Romeo and Juliet re-enactment from the balcony and later toured the garden, framing guests for commemorative photos.source surinenglish
