Tynwald Day

Tynwald Day

Video clips are available to download showing Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal party on the Isle of Man. To view the clips, click on the appropriate link below.

You will require Windows Media Player version 8 or higher to view the clips.

The Isle of Man Government thanks Manx Radio for providing access to these clips.

• Queen Elizabeth II arriving on the Isle of Man

• The fly-by and the Royal party arriving at St. Johns.

• The Tynwald Church Service.

• The Tynwald Ceremony.

Media Event

To celebrate the visit of Her Majesty The Queen in 2003, the Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee has been working closely with local companies and Isle of Man Government agencies to bring you the day's events through local websites.

You can view coverage of previous royal visits to the Tynwald Ceremony by Her Majesty The Queen, a young Prince Edward, Prince Charles in 2000, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother). To view the coverage please click on the appropriate image below.

You will require Windows Media Player version 8 or higher to view the clips. If you are on a 56k connection please select "Low" on the icons otherwise please select "High".

The Isle of Man Government thanks Manx Radio for providing access to these clips.

	Extract from the promotional film Isle of Beauty made in 1949, featuring the visit of King George Sixth and Queen Elizabeth to the Island in 1946. Low - 525 Kb High - 2.4 Mb
	Highlights of the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1979 as part of the Island’s Millennium celebrations. Low - 1.1 Mb High - 5.2 Mb
	The visit of HRH Prince Edward to the Tynwald Ceremony in 1986. This was the young Prince’s first public engagement undertaken by himself. Low - 1.1 Mb High - 4.9 Mb
	The visit of HRH The Prince of Wales who presided over Tynwald in 2000. Low - 1.0 Mb High - 4.7 Mb

Background to Tynwald Day

Tynwald Fair Day, held annually on old midsummer's day* in July is the Isle of Man's national day and is the occasion of the Tynwald Midsummer Court. The Members of Tynwald - the Manx parliament - meet at St John's village in the west of the Island for the ceremony, a legal requirement established by the Island's ninth century rulers.

The name comes from Thing-Vollr, the Norse for parliament field. Tynwald Court, together with the Island's senior public officer-holders, assembles on Tynwald Hill - a four tiered hill in the centre of St John's, reputed to be constructed from sods of earth from every parish. The open air sitting at Tynwald Hill dates back more than 1,000 years. During the ceremony, the Deemsters (the Isle of Man's High Court judges) promulgate Acts of Tynwald by proclaiming to the people in English and Manx Gaelic the titles of new laws which have been passed during the year. It is also an opportunity for Island residents to exercise their ancient right to present a petition for redress of grievance at the foot of Tynwald Hill, and for the swearing-in of the Island's four Coroners.

In 2003 HM the Queen presides as Lord of Mann at the Midsummer Court of Tynwald.

Aside from the formal proceedings, Tynwald Day has long been an occasion for the Manx people to gather and meet with friends and family at St John's. A traditional fair is still held, along with a day-long variety of entertainment including folk dancing and music, culminating with the military band performing Beat Retreat at 9pm, followed by a concert by the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums on Tynwald Hill and a fireworks finale.

*Tynwald Day is always held on July 5th except if it falls at the weekend. Then, normally, it is moved to the following Monday. This year Tynwald Day takes place on Monday, July 7th.

For more information of Tynwald and the Manx Parliament please follow this link to the Tynwald Website.