Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second in Belize, 1994

Thursday July 26, 2018

Queen Elizabeth 2nd inspecting a Guard Of Honor mounted by her Belize Defence Force at the Philip Goldson International Airport during her second visit to Belize in February of 1994. So, did you that she was The Commander In Chief Of The Belize Defence Force? As our Head of State, the Queen is also the head of our armed forces. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government The Parade Commander is Major Hugh Cain (closest to the Queen) the other officer behind the GG is Capt.Juan Teck (ADC) and the other officer with the sword I really cannot recognize him. Her wrist was broken at the time. She broke her left wrist when her horse tripped and they both fell, while she was riding on Saturday 17th Jan 1994.

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Belize Abroad

It is saddening to reflect that no great ancient races inhabited these lovely Isles, that no great man ever lived, and laboured, and worked, and fought, and died, and left a name for posterity to honour and to cherish as a ‘household word’; that no time-honoured tower or world-famed temple, or pilgrim haunted shrine ever stood on yonder cape—in short, that the past is all a blank.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second in Belize, 1994

During her sixty years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth has visited Belize twice: in October, 1985 and again in February, 1994. During her 1994 visit Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, were guests of honour at a luncheon hosted at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.

She visited Punta Gorda and was entertained in the park by local artists. Leela Vernon sang for her at Central Park in PG. She also visited Noviette Nazareth in Forest Home. She also visited Orange Walk. St Catherine's Orchestra played the national anthem at the Memorial Park. When she visited San Ignacio Town she was on the platform near the Administration building (police station) at Coronation Park.

Audrey Matura: I was a news reporter on Channel Seven snd I covered every event live on tv. I even met her in person when she said she would meet with ten people and I was chosen as one of the ten. I remember so many details.

Photograph courtesy Belize Abroad

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Belize Slideshow

Queen Elizabeth has visited Belize twice: in October, 1985 and again in February, 1994. During her 1994 visit Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, were guests of honour at a luncheon hosted at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. To commemorate that occasion, we have put together a DVD highlighting our treasured memories of our time with the royals.

Belize Currents magazine featuring Queen Elizabeth's 1994 visit to Belize. Text and more photos from that magazine below.

Below is an editorial from the above Belize Currents magazine featuring Queen Elizabeth's 1994 visit to Belize:

British Ties

Upon receiving her independence from Great Britain September 21, 1981, Belize chose to remain a member of the British Commonwealth with all the benefits thereof. The greatest aid this newly formed nation desired was military protection from Guatemala - its not so friendly neighbor that continued to claim Belize (Guatemala's hopeful access to the Caribbean Sea) as its own. England's resident forces in Belize had effectively discouraged Guatemalan takeover for many years. The presence of the British harrier in Belize was no small deterrent. As one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, this peculiar hybrid - which is highly sophisticated electronically - looks and flies like a jet and hovers and lands like a helicopter. Thus Belize has enjoyed full military protection from Britain since colonial days, not to mention British aid in building roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

August 15, 1991 the Office of the President of Guatemala issued a statement recognizing Belize's right to self-determination. Diplomatic relations were formally established between Belize and Guatemala September 12, 1991. In the spring of 1993, England announced the removal of the majority of British troops from Belize and British army camps are currently being turned over to the Belize Defense Force. England assured Belize of her support of the local defense program as well as future military backup as needed. This reliance on the military strength of Great Britain during Belize's early years of independence perpetuated British ties even after a strong emotional bid for independence. A member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is an independent parliamentary democracy based on the Westminister system. Though not essential to remaining in the Commonwealth, Belize chose to symbolically recognize the Queen as constitutional Head of State. As such, when Queen Elizabeth II is on Belizean soil she bears the title Queen of Belize. When absent from the small commonwealth nation, she is represented by a Governor General who must be a Belizean.

Below are photos from that magazine.

Cristal Mayra Acosta Rancharan: Upper right: The little girls dancing are Andrea Garcia, Vanesa Rancharan, and Jordana Riveroll from Corozal. The dance was spearheaded by the late Ms. Rene Sosa.