The British Embassy Manila hosted a celebration in Taguig City on June 18, 2024, to mark the 76th birthday of King Charles III and to honor the enduring relationship between the
UK and the Philippines.
Approximately 400 guests, including government officials, diplomatic representatives, business leaders, and members of the arts, academia, and civil society, attended the event. Notable attendees included Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and His Majesty's Ambassador Laure Beaufils, who together raised a toast to the King.
The event featured speeches from British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau, Laure Beaufils, and Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro. The British School Manila choir opened the program by singing the national anthems of the UK and the Philippines. The Ambassador and Undersecretary toasted to King Charles III and the friendship between the two nations, followed by the symbolic cutting of a cake bearing the royal insignia.
Welcoming the guests, Ambassador Beaufils delivered remarks in both English and Filipino:
"It is a great honor and pride for us to be with you this evening to mark this event and celebrate the enduring friendship between the UK and the Philippines.
Natutuwa akong tanggapin kayo dito ngayong gabi. Ito ay isang napaka-halagang okasyon para sa amin, at natutuwa akong ipagdiwang ang kaarawan ng ating Hari kasama ang aming mga Pinoy-na kaibigan."
Reflecting on diplomatic milestones over the past year, Ambassador Beaufils highlighted several key events:
"That friendship was also manifest when President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos attended the King’s Coronation a year ago. And when our then Foreign Secretary James Cleverley visited the Philippines late August, en route to China. When our Defence Minister came to the Philippines in the autumn to meet with Secretary Teodoro and defense colleagues. When Secretary Uy joined the first ever Global Summit on AI Safety chaired by the British Prime Minister later in the year. Or when Secretary Pascual went to London just last month. And when our friend Undersecretary Lazaro co-chaired our first ever Strategic Dialogue in London with our Minister for Asia, Ann Marie Trevelyan, at the end of the year."
The celebration was organized with the support of numerous partners, including PruLife UK, Shell, Pandiman, BPI, Unilever, Corio Generation, HSBC, SSI Marks & Spencer, VFS Global, PGA Cars – Bentley, BSI, Inchcape, BDO, Standard Chartered, Jollibee Foods Corp, The Dalmore and Whyte and Mackay, Diageo, McDonald’s, Philippine Airlines, and Estate Wines.