96-577: The Big Jubilee Read is a 2022 campaign to promote reading for pleasure and to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II . A list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, 10 from each decade of Elizabeth II 's reign, was selected by a panel of experts and announced by the BBC and The Reading Agency on 18 April 2022. An initial long-list was compiled from readers' suggestions, and a panel of librarians, booksellers and "literature specialists" made
192-553: A " 'You'll take your medicine and like it' kind of list compiled by people who were scared stiff of not being diverse enough." Similarly, in The Article , David Herman complained: "If you like Hornblower or James Bond , witches and hobbits, great children's literature, popular poetry or drama, The Big Jubilee Read doesn't care. What it does care about is post-colonial , ideally non-white, literature." Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II
288-492: A golden jubilee letter from a nine-year-old boy named Chris, titled A Recipe for a Perfect Queen , which includes ingredients of "jewels, posh gowns, loyalty, hard work, healthiness, and courage". On 5 February, the Queen hosted a reception at Sandringham House for volunteer groups, pensioners and members of the local Women's Institute group. At the reception, the Queen met Angela Wood, a former cookery student who helped create
384-558: A tropical wet and dry climate , with a wet season from May to October, and a dry season that runs from November to April. Seasonally, there is little temperature change. A major natural hazard is the tropical cyclones that form during the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. On 11 and 12 September 2004, Hurricane Ivan struck the Cayman Islands. The storm resulted in two deaths and caused significant damage to
480-534: A "once-in-a-generation show" that would "mix the best of British ceremonial splendour and pageantry with cutting-edge artistic and technological displays". The March 2021 budget allocated £28 million to fund Jubilee celebrations, which did not include the cost of the extra bank holiday. In an August 2021 impact assessment report, the British government estimated a £2.39 billion loss in GDP due to business closures during
576-483: A bank and several hotels, as well as the introduction of a number of scheduled flights and cruise stop-overs. Politically, the Cayman Islands were an internally self-governing territory of Jamaica from 1958 to 1962, but they reverted to direct British rule following the independence of Jamaica in 1962. In 1972, a large degree of internal autonomy was granted by a new constitution, with further revisions being made in 1994. The Cayman Islands government focused on boosting
672-652: A concert titled The Queen's Platinum Jubilee – 70 Years took place at the Royal Albert Hall . The event featured music from the Queen's coronation and other key moments of her reign, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra . Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were in attendance. The Lord Mayor's Platinum Jubilee Big Curry Lunch took place at the Guildhall, London , on 7 April. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended
768-548: A downward trajectory. The food sector was the only sector that saw sales volumes spike by 3.1%. The Queen's Green Canopy campaign was launched in May 2021. The campaign invites people from the United Kingdom to plant a tree to make the local environment greener, and serve as a "special gift" to the Queen. By March 2022 more than one million trees had been planted. A 70 ft (21 m) sculpture called 'Tree of Trees'
864-488: A dynamic environment for marine life. While visitors are not allowed to take anything, there are endless sights. Each of the five decks of the ship offers squirrelfish, rare sponges, Goliath groupers, urchins, and more. Experienced and beginner divers are invited to swim around the Kittiwake . Pirates Week is an annual 11-day November festival started in 1977 by the then-Minister of Tourism Jim Bodden to boost tourism during
960-496: A happy Commonwealth that countries are now bidding to join. In the thousand-year history of this place, no monarch has seen such an increase in the longevity, prosperity or opportunity — or the freedom — of the British people. No monarch has seen such technical advances, in many of which British scientists have played a leading part, from the dawn of the internet to the use of the world's first approved covid vaccine. No monarch, by their efforts, dedication and achievement, better deserves
1056-461: A major rebuilding program on Grand Cayman meant that its infrastructure was almost back to its pre-hurricane condition. Due to the tropical location of the islands, more hurricanes or tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other region in the Atlantic basin. On average, it has been brushed, or directly hit, every 2.23 years. The islands are in the western Caribbean Sea and are
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#17328010437341152-466: A more mixed-race population. The country's demographics are changing rapidly. Immigration plays a large role, and the changing demographics in age have sounded alarm bells in the most recent census. In comparison to the 2010 census, the 2021 census has shown that 36% of Cayman's population growth has been in persons over age 65, while 8% growth was recorded in groups under age 15. This is due to extremely low birth rates among Caymanians, which almost forces
1248-470: A new series of three coins, titled The Queen's Reign . The first coin focuses on the Queen's role as the 'fountain of honour'. The second coin highlights the Queen's role as patron of numerous charities. The third coin celebrates the Queen's role as Head of the Commonwealth , an organisation that she calls her "family of nations". Each coin in the collection features the Queen's signature in the centre;
1344-458: A permanent English-speaking population in the islands dates from the 1730s. With settlement, after the first royal land grant by the governor of Jamaica in 1734, came the introduction of slaves . Many were purchased and brought to the islands from Africa. That has resulted in the majority of native Caymanians being of African or English descent. On 8 February 1794, the Caymanians rescued
1440-488: A variety of settlers from various backgrounds eventually arrived, including pirates , shipwrecked sailors, and deserters from Oliver Cromwell 's army in Jamaica . Sir Francis Drake briefly visited the islands in 1586. The first recorded permanent inhabitant, Isaac Bodden, was born on Grand Cayman around 1661. He was the grandson of an original settler named Bodden, probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers involved in
1536-632: Is Stingray City, Grand Cayman . Stingray City is a top attraction in Grand Cayman and originally started in the 1980s when divers started feeding squid to stingrays. The stingrays started to associate the sound of the boat motors with food, and thus visit this area year-round. There are two shipwrecks off the shores of Cayman Brac, including the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts ; Grand Cayman also has several shipwrecks off its shores, including one deliberate one. On 30 September 1994,
1632-414: Is indirect taxation : there is no income tax , capital gains tax , or corporation tax . An import duty of 5% to 22% (automobiles 29.5% to 100%) is levied against goods imported into the islands. Few goods are exempt; notable exemptions include books, cameras, and perfume. One of Grand Cayman 's main attractions is Seven Mile Beach , site of a number of the island's hotels and resorts. Named one of
1728-478: Is $ 6 KYD for standard positions, and $ 4.50 for workers in the service industry, where tips supplement income. This contributes to wealth disparity. A small segment of the population lives in condemned properties lacking power and running water. The government has established a Needs Assessment Unit to relieve poverty in the islands. Local charities, including Cayman's Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) also provide assistance. The government's primary source of income
1824-569: Is Caymanian. According to the Economics and Statistics Office of the Government of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands had a population of 71,432 at the Census of 10 October 2021, but was estimated by them to have risen to 81,546 as of December 2022, making it the most populous British Overseas Territory. It was revealed in the 2021 census that 56% of the workforce is Non-Caymanian; this is
1920-412: Is a self-governing British Overseas Territory , and the largest by population. The 264-square-kilometre (102-square-mile) territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman , Cayman Brac and Little Cayman , which are located south of Cuba and north-east of Honduras , between Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula . The capital city is George Town on Grand Cayman, which is the most populous of
2016-489: Is by far the largest, with an area of 197 km (76 sq mi). Grand Cayman's two "sister islands", Cayman Brac and Little Cayman , are about 120 km (75 mi) east north-east of Grand Cayman and have areas of 38 and 28.5 km (14.7 and 11.0 sq mi) respectively. The nearest land mass from Grand Cayman is the Canarreos Archipelago (about 240 km or 150 miles away), whereas
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#17328010437342112-446: Is similar to the font style that appeared on the Queen's Coronation Order of Service in 1953. The Canadian platinum jubilee emblem includes Elizabeth II's royal cypher above a numeral 70 in light-grey, the colour alluding to platinum. The cypher and numeral are surrounded by a seven-sided figure, adorned with seven maple leaves and pearls, representing each decade of the Queen's reign. Multiple elements also symbolise celebration, with
2208-696: The Cayman Islands dollar (KYD), which is pegged to the US dollar US$ 1.227 to 1 KYD. However, in many retail stores throughout the islands, the KYD is typically traded at US$ 1.25. Cayman Islands have a high cost of living, even when compared to UK and US. For example, a loaf of multigrain bread is $ 5.49 (KYD), while a similar loaf sells for $ 2.47 (KYD) in the US and $ 1.36 (KYD) in the UK. The minimum wage (as of February 2021)
2304-652: The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park on the Grand Cayman. Among other notable fauna at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is the critically threatened blue iguana , which is also known as the Grand Cayman iguana ( Cyclura lewisi ). The blue iguana is endemic to the Grand Cayman particularly because of rocky, sunlit, open areas near the island's shores that are advantageous for the laying of eggs. Nevertheless, habitat destruction and invasive mammalian predators remain
2400-703: The Royal Canadian Mint partnered to create a two-coin set, with each mint designing a coin for the set. The silver coin designed by the Royal Mint has an equestrian portrait of the Queen on the reverse and a royal mantle on the obverse. The silver coin designed by the Royal Canadian Mint has a reverse design that depicts the Queen in 1952, while the obverse has the effigy of the Queen used on Canadian coins since 2003. The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on 14 March reflected
2496-613: The Suffolk Show in Ipswich on 1 June. On 23 May, the Queen visited the Chelsea Flower Show , which featured four commemorative installations. In The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Garden, laser-cut steel silhouettes of the Queen were featured, surrounded by 70 planted terracotta pots planted with Lily of the valley , the Queen's favourite flower. At the show, display of roses, featuring new cultivars created to mark
2592-602: The Tower of London , the Honourable Artillery Company fired 62 rounds. A 21-gun salute was fired at Edinburgh Castle by 105th Regiment Royal Artillery . In Wales, a gun-salute was fired in the grounds of Cardiff Castle , organised by 160th (Welsh) Brigade . In Northern Ireland, the Reservists of 206 (Ulster) Battery Royal Artillery fired a 21-gun salute at Hillsborough Castle . On 16 March,
2688-569: The Trooping the Colour to worldwide tours. The Platinum Pudding competition was launched on 10 January 2022 by The Big Jubilee Lunch and Fortnum & Mason throughout the United Kingdom to find a pudding to celebrate the Jubilee. Five finalists were selected to prepare their creations for a judging panel, with the winning recipe being made available to the public at Big Jubilee Lunches during
2784-622: The USS ; Kittiwake was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. In November 2008 her ownership was transferred for an undisclosed amount to the government of the Cayman Islands, which had decided to sink the Kittiwake in June 2009 to form a new artificial reef off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman. Following several delays, the ship was finally scuttled according to plan on 5 January 2011. The Kittiwake has become
2880-486: The "empathy" the Queen had shown after the 1966 Aberfan disaster . On 26 May, both Houses of Parliament debated a Humble Address to congratulate the Queen. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom would "show with every bonfire, every concert and street party, and every aerobatic display a love and devotion to reciprocate the love, devotion and leadership she has shown to the whole country over seven decades". He said: She has seen an empire transformed into
2976-536: The Caribbean, and one of the highest in the world. Immigrants from over 140 countries and territories reside in the Cayman Islands. As of 2017 , no evidence has been found that the islands had been occupied before their discovery by Europeans. The Cayman Islands got their name from the word for crocodile ( caiman ) in the language of the Arawak-Taíno people. It is believed that the first European to sight
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3072-537: The Cayman Islands is Christianity (67% in 2021, down from over 80% in 2010). Religions practised include United Church, Church of God, Anglican Church, Baptist Church, Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Pentecostal Church. Roman Catholic churches are St. Ignatius Church, George Town, Christ the Redeemer Church, West Bay and Stella Maris Church, Cayman Brac. Many citizens are deeply religious, regularly going to church, however, atheism has been on
3168-637: The Cayman Islands is English (90%). Islanders' accents retain elements passed down from English, Scottish, and Welsh settlers (among others) in a language variety known as Cayman Creole. Caymanians of Jamaican origin speak in their own vernacular (see Jamaican Creole and Jamaican English ). It is quite common to hear residents converse in Spanish as many citizens have relocated from Latin America to work and live on Grand Cayman. The Latin American nations with
3264-651: The Cayman Islands provides guided tours weekly on the Mastic Trail and other locations. Another attraction to visit on Grand Cayman is the Observation Tower, located in Camana Bay. The Observation Tower is 75 feet tall and provides 360-degree views across Seven Mile Beach, George Town, the North Sound, and beyond. It is free to the public and climbing the tower has become a popular thing to do in
3360-534: The Cayman Islands was officially declared and administered as a dependency of the Crown Colony of Jamaica. The islands continued to be governed as part of the Colony of Jamaica until 1962, when they became a separate Crown colony , after Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth realm . In the 1950s, tourism began to flourish, following the opening of Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA), along with
3456-599: The Cayman Islands. Points of interest include the East End Light (sometimes called Gorling Bluff Light), a lighthouse at the east end of Grand Cayman island. The lighthouse is the centrepiece of East End Lighthouse Park, managed by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands ; the first navigational aid on the site was the first lighthouse in the Cayman Islands. As of 31 December 2015 , 360 commercial vessels and 1,674 pleasure craft were registered in
3552-704: The Jubilee weekend. The winning recipe, by Jemma Melvin from Southport , is a lemon Swiss roll and Amaretti trifle . The winner was announced on 12 May in the BBC One documentary The Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years in the Baking , with the Duchess of Cornwall in attendance. On 4 February, pictures and footage taken two weeks earlier in Windsor Castle's Oak Room were released, featuring the Queen viewing memorabilia from this and prior jubilees. The display included
3648-478: The Jubilee. Following the platinum jubilee weekend, the Queen released a thank you message in which she said: When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my platinum jubilee. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to
3744-509: The Queen's Robe of Estate , worn by her at the Coronation in 1953 . A continuous platinum line in the shape of St Edward's Crown features the number "70" at the top of the Crown, signifying the Queen's 70-year reign and her platinum jubilee. Roberts included a circle to border the Crown, to create the impression of a royal seal. The emblem's typeface is Perpetua , which means "forever", and
3840-755: The Royal Deck Tea Room, musical entertainment for visitors in the State Apartments on 2 June, and a city-wide Corgi Treasure Hunt. On 1 June, the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon moved a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the Queen. She said that the Scottish Government would present the Queen with a limited edition Johnnie Walker whisky, with a special design to celebrate
3936-611: The Ultimate Beaches by Caribbean Travel and Life, Seven Mile Beach (due to erosion over the years, the number has decreased to 5.5 miles) is a public beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman Island. Historical sites in Grand Cayman, such as Pedro St. James Castle in Savannah, also attract visitors. All three islands offer scuba diving , and the Cayman Islands are home to several snorkelling locations where tourists can swim with stingrays . The most popular area to do this
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4032-517: The United Kingdom, including Piccadilly Circus, were lit up. Special services were held in cathedrals. In Exeter Cathedral , the choir sang an anthem written for Queen Elizabeth I by the 16th century English composer William Byrd . Gun salutes were held on 7 February, the anniversary of the accession. A 41-gun salute was fired by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in London's Green Park . At
4128-598: The United Kingdom—of territories, such as the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar , and celebrations were also held in other Commonwealth member states, like the Gambia, Malaysia, Malta, Pakistan, and Samoa. Leaders from across the world, including from China, North Korea, France, Germany, Israel, and the United States, sent messages of congratulations to the Queen on reaching the milestone. In the United Kingdom, there
4224-612: The age of 96. Her funeral took place at Westminster Abbey in London on 19 September 2022 and she was buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle later that day. The Jubilee marked the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. In her 2022 Accession Day message, the Queen said that she hoped the platinum jubilee would bring together families and friends, neighbours, and communities. She said that
4320-757: The attribute of greatness. For me, she is already Elizabeth the Great. A new BBC documentary, Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen , aired on 29 May. The film includes unseen footage from the Queen's archive, and is narrated by the Queen herself. In late May, the Reading-based Republic group put on posters with the slogan "Make Elizabeth the Last" in different regions within the UK, using £43,000 garnered from crowdfunding. From 30 May to 3 June, HMY Britannia hosted 65 former crew members for Yotties Week. Celebrations included celebratory dishes and cocktails in
4416-446: The base, the years 1952 and 2022 are in gold, and placed on the poutama (step) design in the traditional colours of red-ochre and white. The design represents "steps of service", namely, the seven decades of public service by the Queen. The celebration plans were announced by Buckingham Palace on 10 January 2022. For the first time, jubilee beacons were lit in every capital city of each Commonwealth country. The Royal Mint and
4512-562: The beauty of Scotland's flora and fauna, and a throw made from the tartan commissioned in honour of the three bridges across the River Forth . Schools and nurseries across the UK organised events and parties. St Paul's C.E Primary School in Oldham organised a re-enactment of the Queen's coronation in 1953 . Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands ( / ˈ k eɪ m ən / )
4608-460: The best of my ability, supported by my family. The Queen's Baton for the 2022 Commonwealth Games featured a platinum strand along its length. This is the first time that any British monarch has celebrated a platinum jubilee. There was an extra bank holiday on 3 June and the usual Spring bank holiday was moved from the end of May to 2 June, to create the platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June. The British government promised
4704-766: The books are winners of the Booker Prize . Most of the books are novels written in English, but there are also poetry collections such as Death of a Naturalist and short story collections including The Boat , while One Moonlit Night was published in Welsh as Un Nos Ola Leuad , Le Procès-Verbal and Our Lady of the Nile were originally in French, and Shuggie Bain is in English but with dialogue in Scots . The list
4800-469: The capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. England took formal control of the Cayman Islands, along with Jamaica, as a result of the Treaty of Madrid of 1670 . That same year saw an attack on a turtle fishing settlement on Little Cayman by the Spanish under Portuguese privateer Manuel Ribeiro Pardal . Following several unsuccessful attempts at settlement in what had by then become a haven for pirates,
4896-612: The charity preview of the event. The Queen attended on 15 May. The Queen's youngest granddaughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor , drove in the carriage that once belonged to her grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh , and had been featured in his funeral . Actors Helen Mirren and Tom Cruise were involved, with Mirren playing Queen Elizabeth I. On 13 May, a 550-mile (890 km) torch relay across Suffolk began. Starting in Brandon , The relay travelled 250 towns and villages, ending at
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#17328010437344992-538: The choice of 70 titles, aiming "to engage all readers in the discovery and celebration of great books". The project received funding from the Arts Council and is supported by Libraries Connected and the Booksellers Association . The organisers hope that the project will "celebrate the joy of reading and the power that it has to connect people across the country and among nations". Nineteen of
5088-464: The country's infrastructure and services cannot cope with the surging population. It is believed that given current trends, the population will reach 100,000 before 2030. According to the Economics and Statistics Office, the final result of the 20 October 2021 Census was 71,432; however, according to a late 2022 population report by the same body, the estimated population at the end of 2022 was 81,546, broken down as follows: The predominant religion on
5184-469: The country's tourism slow season. Other Grand Cayman tourist attractions include the ironshore landscape of Hell ; the 23-acre (93,000 m ) marine theme park " Cayman Turtle Centre : Island Wildlife Encounter", previously known as "Boatswain's Beach"; the production of gourmet sea salt ; and the Mastic Trail , a hiking trail through the forests in the centre of the island. The National Trust for
5280-560: The crews of a group of ten merchant ships , including HMS Convert , an incident that has since become known as the Wreck of the Ten Sail . The ships had struck a reef and run aground during rough seas. Legend has it that King George III rewarded the islanders for their generosity with a promise never to introduce taxes, because one of the ships carried a member of the King's family. Despite
5376-598: The discovery of the islands by Europeans. Marine life around the island of the Grand Cayman includes tarpon , silversides ( Atheriniformes ), French angelfish ( Pomacanthus paru ), and giant barrel sponges . A number of cetaceans are found in offshore waters. These species include the goose-beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris ), Blainville's beaked whale ( Mesoplodon densirostris ) and sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ). Cayman avian fauna includes two endemic subspecies of Amazona parrots: Amazona leucocephala hesterna or Cuban amazon , presently restricted to
5472-500: The evening of 1 June, the official jubilee photograph of the Queen was released. The portrait, by Ranald Mackechnie, was taken in the Victoria Vestibule at Windsor Castle on 25 May. The photo shows the Queen in a blue dress, with the statue of Charles II seen behind a window in the background. In a special message, the Queen said "many happy memories will be created" over the next four days. She thanked everyone involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark
5568-493: The event. On four evenings from 12 to 15 May, the 2022 Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle , titled A Gallop Through History , concluded with a 90-minute celebration in tribute to the Queen, featuring 500 horses and 1,000 dancers, with various members of the Royal Family, including Duke and Duchess of Gloucester , the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, and the Princess Royal in attendance. Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi , also attended
5664-422: The extra bank holiday. The jubilee was expected to bring a £1.2 billion boost to the UK economy. The Centre for Retail Research estimated that consumers in the United Kingdom would spend $ 356 million on Platinum Jubilee memorabilia. In July 2022, it was reported that retail sales dipped by 0.1% in June despite jubilee celebrations, which was less than what was expected amid the economic crisis , but still showed
5760-403: The first marine protected areas were designated in the Cayman Islands, making them the first islands in the Caribbean to protect their fragile marine life. The constitution was further modified in 2001 and 2009, codifying various aspects of human rights legislation. On 11 September 2004, the island of Grand Cayman, which lies largely unprotected at sea level, was battered by Hurricane Ivan ,
5856-416: The first time a royal event has been commemorated on a 50p coin. The 50p coin is designed to feature the Queen's royal cypher within the 0 of the number 70 on the reverse. The £5 crown features the quartered shield of the Royal Arms on the reverse. Both coins show the Queen on horseback on the obverse. The Royal Mint also produced a 220 mm (8.7 in) diameter 15 kg (33 lb) coin, which
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#17328010437345952-414: The first time in the territory's history that the number of working immigrants has overtaken the number of working Caymanians. Most Caymanians are of mixed African and European ancestry. Slavery occurred but was not as common compared to other Caribbean islands, and once it was abolished, black and white communities seemed to integrate more compliantly than other Caribbean nations and territories resulting in
6048-412: The first time that her signature has been featured on UK coinage. The coins were designed by Irish artist and illustrator P. J. Lynch , who was "inspired by the Queen's hands and the work they represent". In February 2022, the Royal Mail released eight new stamps. The new set of stamps features photographs of the Queen throughout her reign, which commemorate different aspects of her royal duties, from
6144-855: The future will offer similar opportunities to us and especially to the younger generations in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth. Pictures and footage of the Queen working from her red boxes at Sandringham House were released. The then- Prince of Wales said that the Queen's devotion to the welfare of all her people inspired still greater admiration with each passing year. Tributes and messages of congratulations came from foreign leaders, including United States president Joe Biden , Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping , German chancellor Olaf Scholz , King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Israeli president Isaac Herzog , UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, King Mohammed VI of Morocco , and Vietnamese president Nguyễn Xuân Phúc . A congratulatory message
6240-454: The government to seek workers from overseas to sustain the country's economy. This has raised concerns among many young Caymanians, who worry about the workforce becoming increasingly competitive with the influx of workers, as well as rent and property prices going up. Because the population has skyrocketed over the last decade, former government officials have stressed that the islands need more careful and managed growth. Many have worried that
6336-401: The greatest representation are Honduras, Cuba, Colombia, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Spanish speakers comprise approximately between 10 and 12% of the population and are predominantly of the Caribbean dialect. Tagalog is spoken by about 8% of inhabitants, most of whom are Filipino residents on work permits. According to Forbes , the Cayman Islands has the 7th strongest currency in
6432-525: The highest point on the islands. The terrain is mostly a low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs . The portions of prehistoric coral reef that line the coastline and protrude from the water are referred to as ironshore . In Cayman Islands forest cover is around 53% of the total land area, equivalent to 12,720 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 13,130 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 12,720 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of
6528-410: The infrastructure on the islands. The total economic impact of the storms was estimated to be $ 3.4 billion. While there are a large number of generational Caymanians, many Caymanians today have roots in almost every part of the world. Similarly to countries like the United States, the Cayman Islands is a melting pot with citizens of every background. 52.5% of the population is Non-Caymanian, while 47.5%
6624-520: The island of Cayman Brac , but formerly also on Little Cayman , and Amazona leucocephala caymanensis or Grand Cayman parrot , which is native to the Cayman Islands, forested areas of Cuba, and the Isla de la Juventud . Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are also home to red-footed and brown boobies. Although the barn owl ( Tyto alba ) occurs in all three of the islands they are not commonplace. The Cayman Islands also possess five endemic subspecies of butterflies. These butterfly breeds can be viewed at
6720-419: The islands was Christopher Columbus , on 10 May 1503, during his final voyage to the Americas. He named them "Las Tortugas", after the large number of turtles found there (which were soon hunted to near-extinction). However, in succeeding decades, the islands began to be referred to as "Caimanas" or "Caymanes", after the caimans present there. No immediate colonisation followed Columbus's sighting, but
6816-613: The jubilee "affords me a time to reflect on the goodwill shown to me by people of all nationalities, faiths and ages in this country and around the world over these years". She thanked everyone for their support, loyalty and affection, and signed the message "Your Servant". She said of her 70-year reign and the future: As I look ahead with a sense of hope and optimism to the year of my platinum jubilee, I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for. These last seven decades have seen extraordinary progress socially, technologically and culturally that have benefitted us all; and I am confident that
6912-540: The jubilee with a special focus on the role that service plays in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth. Members of the Royal Family undertook a series of royal tours of Commonwealth countries. The governors-general of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Saint Lucia travelled to the United Kingdom in June to represent their respective countries at jubilee festivities. In
7008-727: The jubilee, won a gold medal. The exhibit, by Shropshire-based grower David Austin Roses, featured pink-apricot roses named Elizabeth. On 24 May, the Senedd passed a motion to congratulate the Queen. First Minister Mark Drakeford said the jubilee events in Wales would be "an indication of the deep respect in which the Queen is held, and an expression of the gratitude for her many years of selfless service". Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said she had held Wales "deeply in her heart" over her 70-year reign. Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price praised
7104-573: The legend, the story is not true. The first census taken in the islands, in 1802, showed the population on Grand Cayman to be 933, with 545 of those inhabitants being slaves. Slavery was abolished in the Cayman Islands in 1833, following the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act by the British Parliament . At the time of abolition, there were over 950 slaves of African ancestry, owned by 116 families. On 22 June 1863,
7200-525: The naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity). For the year 2015, 0% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership , 12% private ownership and 88% with ownership listed as other or unknown. The mammalian species in the Cayman Islands include the introduced Central American agouti and eight species of bats . At least three now extinct native rodent species were present until
7296-596: The nearest from the easternmost island Cayman Brac is the Jardines de la Reina archipelago (about 160 km or 100 miles away) – both of which are part of Cuba. All three islands were formed by large coral heads covering submerged ice-age peaks of western extensions of the Cuban Sierra Maestra range and are mostly flat. One notable exception to this is The Bluff on Cayman Brac's eastern part, which rises to 43 m (141 ft) above sea level,
7392-678: The original recipe for Coronation chicken in 1953. The Queen's Accession Day message was released later that evening. On Accession Day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson , the Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer , and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby were among notable figures releasing statements congratulating the Queen. Tributes were also paid by former British prime ministers. Outdoor billboards across
7488-816: The peaks of an undersea mountain range called the Cayman Ridge (or Cayman Rise). This ridge flanks the Cayman Trough , 6,000 m (20,000 ft) deep which lies 6 km (3.7 mi) to the south. The islands lie in the northwest of the Caribbean Sea, east of Quintana Roo , Mexico and Yucatán State , Mexico, northeast of Costa Rica, north of Panama, south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. They are situated about 700 km (430 mi) south of Miami , 750 km (470 mi) east of Mexico, 366 km (227 mi) south of Cuba, and about 500 km (310 mi) northwest of Jamaica . Grand Cayman
7584-413: The population itself. The Cayman Islands have come under criticism for allegations of money laundering and other financial crimes, including a 2016 statement by then US president Barack Obama that described a particular building which was the registered address of over 12,000 corporations as a "tax scam". The Cayman Islands holds a relatively low unemployment rate of about 4.24% as of 2015, lower than
7680-455: The primary reasons that blue iguana hatchlings do not survive naturally. The Cuban crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer ) once inhabited the islands. And the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is also believed to be slowly repopulating the islands from Cuba. The name "Cayman" is derived from a Carib word for the various crocodilians that inhabited the islands. The Cayman Islands has
7776-554: The rise throughout the islands since 2000, with 16.7% now identifying with no religion, according to the 2021 census. Ports are closed on Sundays and Christian holidays. There is also an active synagogue and Jewish community on the island as well as places of worship in George Town for Jehovah's Witnesses and followers of the Bahá'í faith. In 2020, there were an estimated 121 Muslims in the Cayman Islands. The official language of
7872-589: The rounded edges being shaped like a flower petal and the maple leaves being positioned in a manner that resembles fireworks. The Australian Platinum Jubilee Emblem was unveiled by the Australian Government in March 2022. The emblem can be used for official and recognised events in Australia to celebrate the jubilee. The design is a stylised representation of the Queen's Wattle Spray Brooch, which
7968-404: The territory's economy via tourism and the attraction of off-shore finance, both of which mushroomed from the 1970s onwards. Historically, the Cayman Islands has been a tax-exempt destination, and the government has always relied on indirect and not direct taxes. The territory has never levied income tax , capital gains tax , or any wealth tax , making it a popular tax haven . In April 1986,
8064-469: The three islands. The Cayman Islands is considered to be part of the geographic Western Caribbean zone as well as the Greater Antilles . The territory is a major offshore financial centre for international businesses and the rich mainly due to the state charging no tax on income earned or stored. With a GDP per capita of US$ 109,684 the Cayman Islands has the highest standard of living in
8160-518: The value of 4.7% that was recorded in 2014. With an average income of US$ 109,684 Caymanians have the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. According to the CIA World Factbook , the Cayman Islands' real GDP per capita is the tenth highest in the world, but the CIA's data for Cayman dates to 2018 and is likely to be lower than present-day values. The territory prints its own currency,
8256-525: The work of Dick Francis , reportedly one of the Queen's favourite authors. The inclusion of Northern Irish writer Seamus Heaney was explained by the fact that when he wrote Death of a Naturalist he was living in the UK and published by an English publisher; Heaney identified as an Irish nationalist and had previously objected to his inclusion in The Penguin Book of Contemporary British Poetry . In The Telegraph , Allison Pearson called it
8352-453: The world (the CI dollar or KYD), with US$ 1.00 equivalent to CI$ 0.80. The economy of the Cayman Islands is dominated by financial services and tourism, together accounting for 50–60% of Gross Domestic Product . The nation's zero tax rate on income and storage of funds has led to it being used as a tax haven for corporations; there are 100,000 companies registered in the Cayman Islands, more than
8448-562: The worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years. It created an 8-foot (2.4 m) storm surge which flooded many areas of Grand Cayman. An estimated 83% of the dwellings on the island were damaged, with 4% requiring complete reconstruction. A reported 70% of all dwellings suffered severe damage from flooding or wind. Another 26% sustained minor damage from partial roof removal, low levels of flooding, or impact with floating or wind-driven hurricane debris. Power, water, and communications were disrupted for months in some areas. Within two years,
8544-526: Was Australia's "first platinum" monarch. On Accession Day, the New Zealand platinum jubilee emblem was unveiled. The emblem, approved by the Queen, was prepared by Phillip O'Shea, New Zealand Herald of Arms . Within a platinum five-sided frame is the Queen's royal cypher, with the Māori inscription "Te Hokotoru Mā Ngahuru", which means "three twenties plus ten", an allusion to the Queen's 70-year reign. In
8640-461: Was also sent from Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania . The emblem for the platinum jubilee in the United Kingdom was announced in August 2021, following a competition which was judged by industry experts. The winning design was created by 19-year-old graphic design student Edward Roberts from Nottinghamshire . The regal purple used in the emblem has been closely matched to the purple in
8736-489: Was an extra bank holiday on 3 June and the usual spring bank holiday was moved from the end of May to 2 June to create the four-day Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend from Thursday, 2 June, to Sunday, 5 June. Commemorative stamps and coins were issued by several Commonwealth nations and beacons were lit in every Commonwealth capital for the first time. In many places, trees were planted in the Queen's honour. The Queen died in her Platinum Jubilee year, on 8 September 2022, at
8832-477: Was commissioned by a private UK collector. It is the largest coin the Mint has ever produced. The £15,000 denomination coin was designed by coinage artist John Bergdahl and took nearly 400 hours to make. The obverse features a commemorative design depicting the Queen on horseback, while the reverse depicts the Queen's cypher surrounded by floral emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom. The Mint also released
8928-518: Was erected outside Buckingham Palace for the June celebrations. The sculpture, which contains 350 native British trees in the form of one giant tree, reflects the more than one million trees planted during the Green Canopy initiative. The trees were gifted to selected community groups for planting after the celebrations. The Royal Mint released one of the largest ever commemorative collections , including commemorative £5 crowns and 50p coins ;
9024-408: Was gifted to the Queen during her first visit to Australia in 1954. The emblem contains three colours – platinum, gold and purple. The platinum colour represents the Queen's 70 years on the throne, and the purple colour symbolises royalty. The gold is drawn from the golden wattle , Australia's national floral emblem . The font used is Perpetua , which means 'forever', which acknowledges that the Queen
9120-580: Was published by the BBC on 18 April 2022. Where an author is given two countries of origin in the above list, 0.5 is given to each country. Commentators discussed several omissions of potential titles: J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Lord of the Rings (ranked number 1 in the 2003 The Big Read ); J. K. Rowling 's Harry Potter books; Terry Pratchett 's Discworld series; Philip Pullman 's His Dark Materials trilogy, Doris Lessing 's The Golden Notebook ; and
9216-447: Was the international celebration in 2022 marking the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. It was the first time that any monarch in British history celebrated a platinum jubilee, as is the case in the histories of the other Commonwealth realms . Initiatives to commemorate the jubilee were announced by the governments of many realms—including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and
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