Britannia and the British Empire what Marianne is to France or perhaps what Columbia is to the United States. Britannia became a very potent and more common figure in times of war, and represented British liberties and democracy. During the 1990s the term "Cool Britannia" (drawn from a humorous version by the Bonzo Dog Band of the song "Rule Britannia", with words by James Thomson [1700–1748], which is often used as an unofficial national anthem), was used to describe the contemporary United Kingdom. The phrase referred to the fashionable scenes of the era, with a new generation of pop groups and
Britannia Awards Award for Excellence in Directing, John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing, Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year and Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. It is presented at a gala dinner during the month of November and has been televised in the United States from 2010. Occurring in October or November, the Britannia Awards ceremony is presented at a black tie gala dinner, and has been held predominately at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and Beverly Hilton Hotel. Stephen Fry has hosted it three times (2006, 2009 and 2010), the most of any