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, KSt.J*
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
KSt.J – Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
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:
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
……………………………………………………