Lee Anna Maharaj
leeanna.maharaj@guardian.co.tt
Many countries have gifted Queen Elizabeth II extravagant things, such as the bronze and gold model ship of the Chinese “Vessel of Friendship”, pure-bred Arabian horses, a beaded Yoruba throne, various gold and precious stones, and even an iPod.
However, Trinidad and Tobago has also managed to gift her some special items before and during her reign.
The first recorded gift to Elizabeth from T&T was a wedding gift. On November 20, 1947, the world looked on as both Elizabeth, then a Princess, and Prince Philip wedded. Local artist Hazel De Norbrega created an album of watercolour paintings and drawings of landscapes within the twin islands with “Best wishes from Trinidad and Tobago 20th November 1947” lettered on the front of the album.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, now both deceased, first visited T&T during their Caribbean Commonwealth Tour of 1966, from February 7th – 9th. T&T was their third stop, before proceeding to Grenada and the other islands.
On February 7, both the Queen and Prince Philip met Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams, where they were gifted wooden candlesticks by the Government. Carved on the sticks were our two National birds, a Scarlet Ibis and a Cocrico.
The pair of carved wooden candlesticks presented to Queen Elizabeth II when she addressed the Parliament in Port-of-Spain in 1966.
Image courtesy the Royal Collection Trust
Also presented to them was a marquetry panel, showing T&T’s Coat of Arms. It was created by Francis Toussaint and given to them by the Allied Builders and Craftsmen's Association of Trinidad and Tobago during the 1966 visit.
The next present was titled “Archer Street, Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad” from Painter John Newel Lewis depicting a Port-of-Spain street scene. It was given to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth by then Prime Minister, George Chambers, during her state visit in November 1985 for the Caribbean Commonwealth Tours.
Added to that, a brightly coloured painting by Holly Gayadeen called “Hosay Festival: Parade of the Tadjas” was also presented to Queen Elizabeth II. It was given by the Princess Elizabeth Centre of Trinidad on the same November 1985 visit to commemorate the religious celebration, Hosay.
Another gift to the Queen was from cricket icon, Brian Lara. During her 2009 visit for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, he gave her a signed cricket bat MRF red canvas cricket bat. The signature read, “To Honour Your Majesty's Visit to Trinidad and Tobago 28th November 2009”.
Dwight Yorke also gave her an autographed football.
Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a signed cricket bat by Brian Lara at a reception in T&T in 2009.
Shutterstock
Her Majesty’s final gift from T&T was an art piece from President Paula-Mae Weekes earlier this year. The gift, ‘Woman on the Bass’, was designed and produced by artist Gillian Bishop.
President Weekes presented the gift to the Queen at her 70th Jubilee celebration horse show at Windsor Castle on May 14th, 2022.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra was also there, and played for the Queen.
These tokens may seem small in comparison to other lavish pieces; however, T&T was able to make a mark in the Queen’s archives.
President Paula-Mae Weekes presented Queen Elizabeth II with a gift titled 'Woman on the Bass' in May
Image courtesy the Office of the President FB page