Preparations are well under way for the Isle of Man to celebrate its National Day.

On Friday, July 5, the Tynwald Day ceremony takes place in St John’s.

The formal proceedings begin at 9.45am when the participants in the parade assemble to line the processional way.

A service in the Royal Chapel is then held, after which the members of Tynwald process to Tynwald Hill where each Act of Tynwald will be read out in Manx and English.

The promulgation of Acts on Tynwald Hill is required by statute and must be completed within 18 months of enactment or the Acts cease to have effect.

Tynwald Day is also when anyone may approach Tynwald Hill to present a petition for redress.

If the petition is in accordance with the standing orders of Tynwald, any member of Tynwald may subsequently request Tynwald to consider the substance of the petition.

Adding to the pageantry of the formal proceedings is the Guard of Honour which, this year, will be formed by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, wearing scarlet tunics and bearskin caps.

Established in 1656, the Grenadier Guards is one of the oldest infantry regiments in the British Army. The regiment has taken part in almost every major campaign since the Second World War, including operations in Malaya, Cyprus, Aden, Cameroon, Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and South Sudan.

President of Tynwald Steve Rodan said: ’Upholding the values of democracy is very much at the heart of the formal proceedings of Tynwald Day which, in 2019, provides an occasion for us to reflect on the 100th anniversary of two significant items of Manx legislation.

’In April 1919 the House of Keys Election Act 1919 gave the vote to all men and women over the age of 21 who lived in the Isle of Man, some nine years before residents in the United Kingdom would enjoy similar rights.

’In October of that same year, the Constitutional Amendment Act allowed the admission of the first elected members into the Legislative Council, setting in train a series of reforms that has seen the Legislative Council move from serving as the island’s executive to its current constitutional function as a revising chamber.

’Tynwald Day is also an opportunity for the people of the Isle of Man to celebrate that which makes our island the very special place it is: continuity, constancy, tradition and heritage; qualities displayed at their finest at St John’s on our National Day.

’Those same qualities are embodied in the Band of the Grenadier Guards, whom we are proud to be welcoming this year as our Guard of Honour.

’I am delighted that a regiment famed as much for its ceremonial as its operational excellence will be contributing to the spectacle of Tynwald Day.’

In addition to the formal proceedings there will be a wide range of attractions and entertainment for all the family including the traditional fair with a variety of stalls on the fair field.

Activities will start at 9am and last until the closing moments of the day when, at 10.30pm, Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums will play the Manx National Anthem on Tynwald Hill.

Grandstand tickets, priced £4 to include a programme, are currently on sale at the Tynwald Library, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, or may be reserved by telephoning 685500.

Blue Badge holders wishing to attend Tynwald Day may apply to the Tynwald administration office for a parking pass entitling them to a reserved space at St John’s Primary School. For inquiries, telephone 685500.

People who want to present petitions for redress at the Tynwald Day ceremony on July 5 must comply with the standing orders of Tynwald.

Guidance for potential petitioners is available at tynwald.org.im or from the Tynwald library, 685520.

One of the main reasons for petitioning is to get publicity about a cause.

The best way to do that is coverage in our newspapers and website.

If you’re planning to petition, let us know first, so we can publicise your cause.

Ring our reporters on 695697 or email [email protected]

Don’t forget to include a phone number so we can get back to you quickly if we need to.

Guests:

Dr W McKeeva Bush JP OBE MLA, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands.

Alistair Carmichael MP for Orkney and Shetland and Liberal Democrat chief whip.

Miguel Clűsener-Godt, director, division of ecological and Earth sciences and secretary of Man and the Biosphere Programme.

Senator Paul Coghlan, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Ã?ireann.

Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Connétable of St Helier.

Linda Fabiani, deputy presiding officer, Scottish Parliament

Michael Goulden, great nephew of women’s votes campaigner Sophia Goulden.

Dame Eleanor Laing MP, Deputy Speaker, House of Commons (First Deputy Speaker of Ways and Means)

Robert MacRae QC, Attorney General of Jersey.

Robert Neill MP, chair of the Justice Select Committee.

Megan Pullum QC LLB, HM Procureur and Receiver General of Guernsey

Magne Rommetveit, Vice-President of the Storting, Parliament of Norway.

Andrew Rosindell MP, British-Irish Parliamentary Association (BIPA) co-chair; Chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Overseas Territories; Chairman of the UK-Isle of Man (Manx) All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Steingrimur Sigfusson, Speaker of the Althing, Parliament of Iceland.

Olav Eek Thorstensen, chairman of Thorme Group.