The British ambassador surprised with her tango dancing skills at her farewell as hostess at her official residence.

This Wednesday, the British residence in Buenos Aires turned on its lights, as it usually does because it's one of the busiest in the capital.

Celebrating 200 years of bilateral economic relations , it was 7:30 p.m. and already a dark winter night. Ambassador Kirsty Hayes gave her usual welcoming speech to her guests, with a twist: These are the last of her mission in Argentina, and the last one she made at the residence , because she will soon return to London with her husband, Peter Hayes, to await a new posting within the Foreign Office. Her children live in Scotland. Next week will be the final reception for her departure.

Up until that point, everything seemed very formal when, suddenly, Hayes left her guests speechless . The diplomat began to dance a tango in the center of the room and surprised everyone with the skills she had acquired after three years of weekly practice at the charming residence on Gelly y Obes 2300. No one knew she danced tango. Other passions were known about her, such as horseback riding, horses, and animals.

The dancer who accompanied her was Marcelo Torres, winner of numerous awards , and official dance partner of Hayes' teacher, Beatriz Cisneros.

The reception was attended by leaders from various European chambers of commerce. Also present were the Secretary of Finance, Pablo Quirno , and the president of the House of Representatives' Foreign Relations Committee, Fernando Iglesias . Also present were Javier Milei's first Chief of Staff, Nicolás Posse , and former Foreign Minister Diana Mondino , among others.

Former ambassador to Portugal, Christine Isobel "Kirsty" Hayes, arrived in the country in 2021 , replacing her predecessor, Ambassador Mark Kent. She will now be succeeded by David Cairns , who will arrive in Argentina to take office next September .

Cairns joined British diplomacy in 1993, joining the Department of Public Security at the British Foreign Office. Later, between 1999 and 2000, he became Head of Public Diplomacy at the Directorate General for the European Union and from 2015 to 2019, he served as British Ambassador to Sweden .

At the time of his appointment as ambassador to Argentina, he was working in the private sector as vice president of the Norwegian oil company Equinor , a position he had assumed in 2019.