How To Address The Head of State

Head of State of Jamaica

The Queen

The full Royal Style and Title of the Queen is: ‘Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of Jamaica and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth’.

In formal announcements, The Queen should not be referred to as ‘she’ or ‘her’. After the initial mention the Queen should be addressed as: ‘Her Majesty The Queen’ or ‘The Queen’ or ‘Her Majesty’.

The Governor- General           

The Governor-General is The Queen’s representative, and performs most of the functions of Head of State.

The Mode of Address in

Writing/Formal Settings:

His Excellency the Most Honourable

Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD*

Governor-General

King’s House

Kingston 6

 

*ON                Order of the Nation

GCMG          Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

CD                 Commander of the Order of Distinction

 

Opening Salutation:

(For the Foreign Service)

             ‘Your Excellency,

I have the honour to inform/invite/etc………           

Closing:

                               I avail myself of the opportunity to assure Your Excellency of my highest                                    consideration.’

Name

Title

or

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.’

Name

Title

 

(For Others)

Opening Salutation:

 

‘Your Excellency’

 

Closing:

Yours faithfully,’

 

Name

Title

 

 

Verbal Address/Subsequent Referrals

 

            ‘Your Excellency’

 

Semi-formal Address:

 

‘Governor-General’

 

             ‘Sir Patrick’ (senior colleagues and personal friends)

 

Introduction:

 

          Your Excellency, may I present …….

            The initials H.E. (The abbreviation for His Excellency), are not for formal usage, but may be used in informal and third person usage.

           

The wife of the Governor-General is formally styled: ‘Her Excellency the Most Honourable Lady Allen’

 

She may be addressed formally as ‘Your Excellency’ and informally as ‘Lady Allen’.

 

The first name should never be used.

 

Place Card:

 

The Governor-General

The Most Honourable Lady Allen

Note

Normally place cards are not used for the Governor-General nor the Prime Minister as, at this level, their seats would have been designated and carefully noted by those doing the seating.

The formal joint description of Their Excellencies is:

‘Their Excellencies The Governor-General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen’ or ‘Their Excellencies, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD and the Most Honourable Lady Allen’

At official functions where the Governor-General is present, the National Anthem should be played on his arrival. All persons present should stand silently with heels together and preferably with hands at sides

Invitation Card:

 

Placing the title before the name of the host is correct when addressing an invitation card, eg.

Their Excellencies The Governor-General

and the Most Honourable Lady Allen

request the pleasure of the company of

 

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