Three prominent international publications suggested the Queen has snubbed Bermuda's 400th anniversary celebrations due to the Premier's decision to allow four former Guantánamo Bay prisoners to resettle in Bermuda.

The Times, The Daily Telegraph and Vanity Fair have all run stories claiming Queen Elizabeth II was at one point considering attending events held yesterday honouring the 400th anniversary of Bermuda's settlement.

Referring to the festivities in St. George's The Times reported: "Neither Queen Elizabeth II, the Island's sovereign, nor Ewart Brown, the elected pro-independence Premier, however, will be present for the celebrations.

"The Queen was invited and had been considering a visit but decided to skip the festivities after Britain clashed with the Island's elected Government in June over its decision to resettle four former Guantánamo Bay prisoners without asking Britain's permission."

In June 2008 Conchita Ming, chairman of the Bermuda 2009 Steering Committee, told The Royal Gazette: "We are anticipating that there will be a royal visit during the year."

But recent requests for a comment and update on the invitation sent to Mrs. Ming have gone unanswered.

The Premier's press secretary also ignored requests for comment on the Premier's absence during the historic occasion.

However a Government spokesman told The Times the timing of his trip abroad "was just a coincidence".