Argentina and the United Kingdom celebrated 200 years of diplomatic relations with a musical gala at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. The event, organised by the British embassy, also served as a farewell to British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes, who is leaving her position after four years in the country.

National authorities and diplomats from both countries, as well as business people, artists, scientists, and representatives of civil society were present at the event on Wednesday night. Attendees enjoyed a fragment of the British opera Billy Budd, which is set to debut in the Teatro Colón next Tuesday.

This was Hayes’s last event as ambassador before formally ending her term as head of the British diplomatic delegation in Buenos Aires. David Cairns was announced as the new ambassador in May and is expected to take on his role in September. 

Hayes gave a speech during the event pondering the ties between the two countries. “In these past 200 years we have seen moments of approach and also distance, but our common history has always been marked by respect, mutual admiration, and above all, will to build bridges,” she said.

Hayes added that Wednesday’s evening held “a very personal meaning,”, since it was her last public event as ambassador in Argentina.

“I must confess that saying goodbye to this country is not easy,” Hayes said. “I will take with me unforgettable memories, deep friendships, and an enormous gratitude for the warmth with which you have welcomed me in each of the 24 provinces.”

The British Embassy has been carrying out celebrations for the bicentennial anniversary of the Argentine-British relations since the beginning of 2025.

The event at the Teatro Colón was hosted by Argentine scientist Diego Golombek. British tenor Toby Spence sang the prologue of Billy Budd, accompanied on the piano by Erik Nielsen, the opera’s musical director for its debut in the Teatro Colón. Attendees also enjoyed fragments of the opera Darwin in Patagonia and an adaptation of the symphony ¡Viva la libertad!, written by Argentine composers Lalo Schifrin — creator of the Mission: Impossible theme music — and Rod Schejtman.

Schejtman also carried out an improvised performance to honor Hayes, combining musical notes selected by the ambassador and other attendees.

Present at the event were ministers Mariano Cúneo Libarona (Justice) and Federico Sturzenegger (Deregulation) as well as former Chief of Staff Nicolás Posse and ex Foreign Minister Diana Mondino.

Other government figures in attendance were Secretaries Eduardo Bustamante (foreign relations), Luis Lucero (mining), Pablo Quirno (finances), and Martín Verrier (fight against drug-trafficking)t, along with chief presidential advisor Demian Reidel, and top armed forces authorities Xavier Isaac, Carlos María Allievi and Carlos Alberto Presti.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries kicked off on February 2, 1825, when the United Kingdom and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata — which would later be known as Argentina — signed a Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Navigation. It was also the first time one of the prominent European countries at the time acknowledged Argentina’s independence from Spain, which was formally declared on July 9, 1816.

Updated at 18:59