On 13 June, the British Embassy in Turkmenistan hosted a ceremonial reception at the Ashgabat Golf Club to mark the official birthday of King Charles III. This was reported by the news website Asmannews.
The tradition of celebrating the monarch’s birthday separately from the actual date dates back to the 18th century and is linked to King George II’s decision to move the festivities to the summer months in order to hold outdoor events. Today, similar receptions are organized by British diplomatic missions around the world.
The event brought together representatives of the Turkmen government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, business circles, academia, culture, and the media. Guests were welcomed by the British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon, and his wife.
Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Khojamyrat Geldimyradov, delivered a welcoming speech, conveying congratulations to the British side and highlighting the high level of bilateral relations. He also described the recent visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the United Kingdom and his meeting with King Charles III as an important event.
For his part, Ambassador Conlon emphasized the growing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of culture and education, including scholarship programs for Turkmen students in the United Kingdom.