King’s Birthday Weekend 2025

This weekend is King’s Birthday, and Monday 16 June 2025, is a public holiday on Norfolk Island. It is normally a relaxing weekend after the busy activities and events at Bounty Day weekend. Last Sunday, there was also a special sporting event organised with the Baunti Day Cricket match down the town at Kingston on 8 June 2025, at the historic Kingston Oval sports ground.

It is three years since we celebrated, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Platinum Jubilee, 70 years as the Monarch of the Commonwealth countries across the world at Queen’s birthday on 13 June 2022. On Queen’s Birthday 2022, a Community Morning Tea Garden Party was held at Queen Victoria Garden, Queen Elizabeth Ave. The commemoration of the occasion included a tree planting, singing and reflections, and the mornings festivities.

King Charles III became our monarch after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. Two years ago, we celebrated the King’s Coronation which was on 6 May 2023. We now sing the National Anthem, “God Save The King”. On the 14 November 2023, King Charles III celebrated his 75^th Birthday, King Charles III was born on 14 November 1948.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Official_Birthday

“The day has been celebrated since 1788, when Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark the birthday of the King of Great Britain. Until 1936, it was held on the actual birthday of the monarch, but, after the death of George V, it was decided to keep the date on the second Monday in June. This has served well to space out public holidays somewhat evenly throughout the year. While George V's successor, Edward VIII, also celebrated his birthday in June, the two sovereigns since have not. George VI's birthday was in December, close to public holidays for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s, while Elizabeth II's birthday falls shortly after holidays for Good Friday and Easter and very close to ANZAC Day.”

It is often questioned why we celebrate the Sovereigns birthday.

The celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 was renamed Empire Day in 1903 after her death in 1901. It was celebrated throughout the British Empire culminating in fireworks and bonfires in the evening. The last celebration of Empire Day in Australia took place in 1958. The modern Queen's Birthday public holiday is a separate event observed on the second Monday of June.

https://www.norfolkisland.net/long-live-the-queen-queen-victoria-and-the-norfolk-islanders/

Long Live the Queen: Queen Victoria and the Norfolk Islanders | Discover Norfolk Island

In the early part of the 20th century, ‘Empire Day’ was celebrated throughout the whole of the British Empire (later the British Commonwealth), and the day chosen was May 24th, which had been Victoria’s birthday. There was a special emphasis on participation by children, and a half-holiday was given on the day. Nowhere was it celebrated with greater enthusiasm or patriotism than here on Norfolk Island, and many of the island’s older people will tell you about the special treats and festivities of those days. Children would wear red, white and blue ribbons, wave flags, and sing songs like Rule Britannia. and God Save the Queen (or King.). The latter is still the National Anthem on Norfolk Island, a tradition that many Norfolk Islanders say they wish to continue out of their gratitude and respect for the Monarchy, and Queen Victoria in particular. In the second half of the 20th century, the Empire Day became known as Commonwealth Day. The Official Queen’s Birthday was marked by a public holiday in June, while Commonwealth Day is now celebrated in March.

When searching on the internet, I found the suggestion that “June is summertime in the United Kingdom and hopefully settled fine weather for outdoor activities.” In Australia some states public holidays were last week on 9 June 2025 and Western Australia on the 29 September 2025 and Queensland will be 6 October 2025. New Zealand King’s birthday is held on the first Monday in June, this year was held on 2 June 2025.

King's Birthday 2024 in Australia (timeanddate.com)

In most Australian states and territories, King’s Birthday falls on the second Monday in June—on the same date as the United Kingdom. However, two states have decided to move the holiday to a different date to avoid clashes with other state holidays:

• Western Australia usually observes the holiday on the fourth Monday of September or the first Monday of October. The date is proclaimed each year by the state’s governor.

• Queensland celebrates King’s Birthday on the first Monday of October.

King’s Birthday Awards.

Each year members of the public are acknowledged and shown recognition for the lifetime achievements, individuals’ personal bravery, achievements, or service to their community or country and they are awarded honours, decorations, and medals.

A list of medals and honours are listed on this internet site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom

Norfolk Island citizens have been recognised with Queen Birthday awards, and in 2015, some of these special Norfolk Islanders gathered on Queen’s Birthday and I was invited to take a group photograph of these special members of our Norfolk Island community. In honour of Queen Elizabeth II granted by the Sovereign's command the most excellent order of the British Commonwealth Awards to Greg Quintal MBE, Eric Craig MBE, Bonnie Quintal MBE, and Maureen King QSM.

Norfolk Island has strong links with the monarchy.

http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5H23T_queen-elizabeth-lookout

“The first visit to Norfolk Island by a reigning Monarch was on the 11^{th of} February 1974 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Norfolk Island. The Royal yacht Britannia anchored in Sydney Bay in the early hours on 11 February 1974 and Her Majesty was transported ashore in an Administration Launch. Her Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness the Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh), Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne, and Captain Mark Phillips. The Royal Party made a tour of the historic areas in Kingston during which the Queen laid a wreath on the cenotaph and named the “Queen Elizabeth Lookout”.

The “Queen Elizabeth II Lookout” is another favourite place to stop when travelling down Rooty Hill Road, the viewpoint has a magnificent view of Kingston Historic Area, the Norfolk Island Golf Club and ocean views out to Phillip and Nepean Islands.

Queen Elizabeth Avenue is named in the Queen’s honour upon Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II coronation on 2nd June 1953. A wonderful sign can be viewed, at the beginning of the avenue where the road meets Taylor Road. The plaque celebrates the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 4th June 2012.

Enjoy the weekend and Monday King’s Birthday public holiday if you are lucky enough to have the day off work. Thank you to those who are working looking after the visitors and local community.

Happy King’s birthday

…… And Three Cheers for the King …

Betty Matthews

13 June 2025