I will draw this year’s Queen’s Birthday Party, to be held on 11 June, to its conclusion by unveiling a symbol: a limited edition photograph of Her Majesty for her 89th birthday.
Taken in black and white, by the UK’s leading photographer David Bailey CBE, with a hint of the mischief and humour for which the British monarch is famous, it is a mix of the traditional and the very up to date.
That mix is at the heart of Britain in 2015. It gives me great pleasure to have been asked to send a message to the readers of BCCJ ACUMEN on the occasion.
The UK, like Japan, believes strongly in tradition. This year, we are proud to be celebrating four generations of the royal family. We will be showcasing a photo exhibition of key moments from The Duke of Cambridge’s visit to Japan earlier this year and welcoming the birth of Princess Charlotte—the latest addition to the family early last month.
Every year, we receive many kind messages from all over Japan that show the warmth and affection in which the Japanese people hold the British royal family.
This year has been no exception, with the duke’s visit followed swiftly by the birth of his daughter. Tradition and history are common bonds that unite our two great countries.
But, while the legacies of the past are important, so too are the promises of the future. I have chosen to celebrate the multiplicity of forward-looking partnerships we enjoy through a year-long Innovation is GREAT campaign, working closely with British and Japanese companies.
Our goal is simple: celebrate and build those links between British and Japanese people who, together, are designing and producing our common future.
We are both lucky enough to have a great reservoir of knowledge and expertise that allows us to design the future in business, IT, academia, R&D and the creative sectors.
In appreciation of a long legacy of tradition and an enduring future of innovation and partnership, please join me in celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s 89th birthday. Long may she reign. And long may she keep her wicked sense of humour.
