Tynwald Day with a different look this year

It's the Islands national day today, and despite a few changes, celebrations are being held to mark the occasion in St Johns today.

The Tynwald Day ceremony will start from 10.30am and will see traditions such as the swearing in of coroners, the promulgation of acts and the carrying over of unfinished House of Keys business into the next legislative year.

However there will be no Tynwald Fair, VIP guests or military guard of honour this time around.

Petitions for redress are not being presented in person this year either and those wanting to put them forward have been asked to submit them to the court online beforehand.

The changes were made earlier this year due to restrictions around the Coronavirus pandemic, and whilst social distancing rules were lifted on June 15, officials have previously stated that decision came too late to put all the infrastructure in place to run the occasion as normal.

Meanwhile, the government has already been encouraging residents to find a way to get involved in enjoying the occasion online from home.

Officials are ecnouraging people to share how they will be spending the time on the Tynwald Day Facebook and Twitter channels with the hashtag #TynwaldDay or #TynwaldDayOurWay.

3FM will be bringing a series of live broadcasts from the occasion during this morning, you can find them on our website and Facebook page.

Speaking to 3FM in St Johns, Health and Social Care Minister, David Ashford MHK, is praising how the Islands has united during these trying times: