Dear Members of the British Residents Association,
Spring is in the air and therefore I take this opportunity to take a look back to the past months which have had an impact on our day to day lives.
We have lived through several lockdowns due to Covid, which has included periods where it was difficult for our loved ones to visit or for us to travel to the UK. Covid has not gone and will be with us for some time to come but thankfully travel restrictions have been greatly relaxed and with normal precautions, we can travel back and forth to the UK normally again.
If you have friends or family visiting you in Switzerland they can always find the latest entry regulations for Switzerland in our travel advice:https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements.
If you are travelling to the UK, you can find the latest Covid related information here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
More recent events have pushed our memories of the Coronavirus to the background. Regretfully we are now confronted with a large movement of refugees coming from the war stricken nation of Ukraine into the safe countries in Europe. I know many of you have sought to help. The UK has also opened its borders for a significant amount of Ukrainian nationals, especially for those with ties to the UK.
The UK and our international partners are united in support for Ukraine, and the government is providing a range of economic and humanitarian assistance. You can read more here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-uk-government-response
I want to end this message on a positive note and we do have something momentous to celebrate this year, namely HM The Queens Platinum Jubilee!
Royal Jubilees are an occasion to celebrate the life and reign of a monarch, and as such are significant events.
Though the concept of the jubilee began in biblical times, today the term is most closely associated with the Royal Family and the ceremony and spectacle which the term symbolises.
Many of you will have fond memories of earlier Jubilee celebrations, and we look forward to sharing more details of our plans for celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in Switzerland.
Our Queen has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe.
Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits including to Switzerland in 1980.
Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.
You can read about the highlights of The Queens reign on this dedicated website: https://www.royal.uk/platinumjubilee.
The Consular Section of the British Embassy Berne wishes everyone a very pleasant spring.
Warm regards