Ever the Royalist, Hester was glued to television coverage of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations held in London earlier this week but was somewhat puzzled as to why Bermuda will be marking the monarch's momentous milestone with a public holiday next Monday - a week after the UK and rest of the world.

Puzzled, that is, until she heard that Madam Premier and the St. George's Progressive Labour Party branch are holding a separate celebration this weekend to commemorate our leader's own Jubilee - her 30th anniversary in politics.

Events include a bowling tournament and a family fun day at Tobacco Bay Beach followed by a barbecue. Knowing how Madam Premier loves to party, an extra day off to recover from the weekend do will definitely be needed.

While Madam Premier's anniversary might not match the magnitude of Liz's London thrash, it would appear that The People's Premier has learned a lesson or two from British Royalty.

Like Her Maj, who had a service of thanksgiving in St. Paul's Cathedral, Madam Premier will be holding her own thanksgiving service on Sunday morning at Richard Allen AME Church.

And in an act reminiscent of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, our leader has donated a number of her hats to be sold at auction later in the afternoon. Royal watchers will recall how Diana auctioned off a collection of her own stunning gowns shortly before she died.

There is one major difference however. While Diana's auction raised cash for world charities, money from Sunday's sale will be going to... the coffers of the PLP St. George's branch.

Nevertheless, clearly Hester is not the only fan of the monarchy on the Island - Madam Premier is behaving more and more like Royalty every day.

Is the recently under fire leader hoping to mimic Her Majesty's own magical surge in popularity with the public?

And still with the Jubilee. Somehow, amidst all of the hullabaloo about Bermuda's laid back approach, the folks at Government Information Services somehow omitted to mention that the Island did in fact send a representative to London.

Youth and Sport Minister Randy Horton was spotted standing tall and proud in St. Paul's at Tuesday's service of thanksgiving, rubbing shoulders with world leaders and A-list celebs.

Hester just wonders how the former soccer star managed to get first in line for the plum junket. Anything to do with the way he voted in the recent leadership election perhaps? Answers on a postcard please.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown's determination and patience have been tested by the continuing effort to make taxi drivers take up the central dispatch system.

But it's not known if Dr. Brown has managed to retain his sense of humour through the whole controversy.

Apparently while Doc was at the christening of the second fast ferry Resolute this week, media types were amused to see that a someone had pasted a decal of the letter S over the 7 on Dr. Brown's official licence plate, thus giving the newly customised plate the magical letters GPS.

And finally. Hester fears that the valiant and somewhat successful attempts by Tourism Minister David Allen to lure Brits to Bermuda may have been undone - thanks to 60's singing star Petula Clark.

The poor man's Dusty Springfield, interviewed in the Travel supplement of a UK Sunday broadsheet recently, had this to say about a break here in Bermuda with her husband Claude.

“We arrived at the tail end of a hurricane, it rained constantly and Claude was furious about the whole thing.”

Describing a second visit, our Pet went on: “This time the weather was with us, but Claude still found the island a bit too manicured and twee for his tastes.”

Manicured? Twee? Constant rain? There's just no pleasing some people.