The British Embassy in Washington sparked laughter — and a little friendly shade — by jokingly wishing for bad weather across the U.S. on Independence Day.
As Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with fireworks and barbecues, the embassy took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a cheeky meme referencing a scene from the popular Netflix docuseries Beckham. The meme featured British icons David and Victoria Beckham in a mock conversation, with Victoria offering well wishes to the U.S. before quipping:
“I hope it pours down and the BBQs go out.”
The post closed with a dry punchline: “Enjoy your big day! Honestly…”
The post was classic British humor, poking fun at the very holiday that marks America’s 1776 declaration of independence from — well, Britain. But behind the banter lies a long-standing diplomatic friendship, often referred to as a “special relationship” since the days of Winston Churchill.
Reactions Pour In — Like the Rain They Wished For
While the U.S. Embassy in London kept it classy with a simple, “Happy 4th of July everyone!” on X, the British Embassy’s post quickly gained viral traction.
“This is the best 4th of July meme I’ve seen. Well played, Brits. Glad we are friends now,” one user wrote.
“British humour is impossible to beat,” said another.
“That’s a very long grudge. Still stings??” someone joked.
“Remember what you did to D.C. in 1812? Yeah, we’re still not over that,” another chimed in, referring to Britain’s burning of the White House during the War of 1812.
Celebrations — and Tensions — Across the U.S.
Independence Day, celebrated on July 4 each year, marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when 13 American colonies broke free from British rule.
This year’s celebrations, however, were a bit more subdued in parts of the country. Several cities postponed or canceled events due to crowd control concerns, safety fears, and growing protests tied to immigration enforcement and policies under the Trump administration.
Still, despite a few storm clouds — literal and political — most Americans marked the holiday with patriotism, parties, and yes, plenty of BBQ.
And thanks to the British Embassy, a few chuckles too.
