King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to visit to the Channel Islands next week, the latest in centuries of Royal Visits to the two Crown Dependencies. The Channel Islands are the only part of the former Duchy of Normandy which remain in the possession of the British Crown, having become part of the Duchy of Normandy in 933, over a century before the Norman Conquest of England.
King Charles II, when Prince of Wales, visited the Channel Islands for a two-month visit in 1646, which was followed by a five-month stay in the Winter of 1649-1650, at the height of the English Civil War.
Queen Victoria was the first Reigning Monarch in centuries to visit the Channel Islands in 1846, which was followed by two further visits in 1854 and 1859.
“A royal salute from Elizabeth Castle announced that the Queen had left the Victoria and Albert, and was approaching; every eye was fixed on the Fairy, eager to catch a first glimpse of our beloved Sovereign who, for the first time, landed on this most ancient portion of her dominions. Amid the roar of cannon and the cheers of thousands, the sweet voices of two hundred choristers were scarcely heard, who, singing the national anthem, strewed Her Majesty’s path with flowers.
After resting a few minutes, Her Majesty rose to receive the Addresses presented by the States and Militia of the Island. Passing the “guard of honour”, Her Majesty and Royal Consort approached the carriage, which then slowly moved onwards towards town, where demonstrations of equal loyalty were everywhere shewn.
After a pleasant drive through the parishes of St Saviour’s and St Martin’s, the royal cortège arrived under the ivy-covered walls of Mont Orguiel castle: the keys of this ancient fortress were then presented to Her Majesty, who, returning them, ordered the gates to be opened, and the royal party drove into the courtyard of the old building.”
The next major Royal Visit was in 1921, when King George V, Queen Mary and Princess Mary paid a visit on the Royal Yacht ‘Victoria and Albert’.
The party first visited Guernsey and attended a sitting of Chief Pleas at St George’s Hall. Loyal addresses were read on behalf of the people of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, and the French community.
They visited the Town Church before the official welcome at St George’s Hall. After a visit to Elizabeth College they moved on to Cambridge Park where 3,500 children were waiting to greet them. The Royal party drove to Jerbourg before arriving at Government House for lunch. In the afternoon they attended a reception at Les Preaux and further touring of the Island. In the evening they dined on board the Royal Yacht.
The King received the homage of the Seigneurs of Sausmarez, Bruneaux, St Martin’s, Henri de Vaugrat and Canely and Fantome. He knighted the Bailiff, Edward Chapmell Ozanne, and decorated a number of islanders.
The visited Victoria College, and while the King was being welcomed by the headmaster, staff and pupils, Princess Mary inspected the island’s Guides who assembled on the cricket ground. The colours were carried by Doris Noel and Olive Le Clerq.
Then on to Mont Orgueil Castle where the King and Queen were met by a guard of halberdiers. At the main gateway the sergeant lowered his halberd across the entrance and challenged “Chi va la?” (Who goes there?). The Bailiff replied “Le Roy” (The King).
The next visit was to Rosel Manor where the Seigneur, as hereditary butler to the Sovereign, served tea to the royal party in a marquee in the lower ward. They then returned to St Helier Harbour, and another royal salute was fired from Fort Regent as their launch headed out the to Royal Yacht slightly ahead of the scheduled time of 5.40 pm.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Channel Islands in June 1945, a month after their Liberation from Nazi Occupation during the Second World War.
This was a very short visit as the arrival was delayed for 24 hours due to weather conditions. The King and Queen eventually arrived at 3.25pm and toured the West Coast and Northern parishes arriving at Candie Gardens for presentations by the Lieutenant-Governor and Bailiff. After tea at Government House they departed at 6.25pm.
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh paid their first visit to the Channel Islands in 1949.
This was the first time the princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh had visited Guernsey and they arrived here after visiting Alderney, Jersey and Sark. They had tea and made presentations on the lawn at Saumarez park before touring the West Coast and St Saviours on thier way to the new Princess Elizabeth Hospital which the Princess officially opened with a silver key. They had dinner at the Old Government House Hotel before departing later that evening on HMS Anson.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh retuned to the Channel Islands in 1957
During this visit the Queen and Prince Philip were presented with gifts for both Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Cambridge Park where over 6,000 schoolchildren had gathered to welcome them. There was a busy itinerary including a visit to St Georges Hall for a meeting of the Chief Pleas. The day ended with a firework display over Castle Cornet.
Two decades later, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh paid another visit to the Channel Islands in 1978
The day started with the Royal couple taking a walkabout in St Peter Port including the old Guernsey Market. After a formal lunch at the Royal Hotel they travelled out to St Peters Village and once again met the crowds who had gathered to see them. They then moved on to Cambridge Park stopping en route at a tomato vinery.
After greeting the thousands of children who had gathered at the port the Queen returned to the Royal Yacht while Prince Philip went to St Peter Port School to meet some young people involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. There was a reception and dinner on the Britannia that evening and the Queen & Prince Philip also visited Alderney and Sark the following day.
In 1989, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh returned to the Channel Islands.
The Queen arrived on HMS Britannia and was joined by Prince Philip who had flown to the Island from the Azores. They first met local dignitaries at Beau Sejour and then visited the Bailiff’s Chambers and walked around St Peter Port before declaring the new marina open. They had lunch at the Royal Hotel before meeting parish officials and more crowds of people in St Sampson.
Their busy schedule then took them on a visit to Saumarez Park and in the evening they hosted a gala reception on HMS Britannia. The following day the Royal couple visited Sark where the Queen opened a new medical centre and then they moved on to Alderney for a formal reception at the Island Hall
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited the Channel Islands in 2001 for the Opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Marina:
The Queen visited Beau Sejour for the official address then moved on to Castle Cornet where she opened the 201 Squadron Museum. After lunch at Government House the Queen flew to Alderney where she was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal couple stopped briefly in Sark before returning to land at L’Ancresse to unveil the plaque on the Millenium Stone. The visit was completed with a gala dinner at Beau Sejour.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh paid a final visit to the Channel Islands to mark the 60th Anniversary of Liberation in 2005:
The 60th anniversary of the Islands’ liberation from German occupation was celebrated with a visit from Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal couple arrived in Guernsey, accompanied by Her Majesty’s Lady-in-Waiting, the Private Secretary to the Queen and the Lieutenant Commander in an aircraft of the Royal Squadron. The Royal visitors were greeted by hundreds of school children situated in the Airport Terminal Building.
Her Majesty and HRH travelled to Beau Sejour for a Liberation Day Service in the Sir John Loveridge Hall. Following this, the Royal couple viewed a small exhibition of Liberation memorabilia and met representatives of the Liberated Generation in the David Ferguson Hall. After enjoying a private lunch at Government House, the Royal couple were taken to the town Roundabout at the bottom of St Julian’s Avenue. The Bailiff at the time, Sir de Vic Carey, publicly welcomed Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip and invited Her Majesty to unveil a stone commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation. Following this, the Royal visitors departed Guernsey for their visit to Jersey
King Charles III has visited Channel Islands on five separate occasions though the decades, but the most prominent visit was when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall went in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Guernsey on Thursday 19th July 2012 having visited Jersey on Wednesday 18th July. TRHs visited Saumarez Park where they were greeted by 400+ 11 year olds from local primary schools taking part in a variety of activies as part of a Youth Showcase. Following the Showcase, HRH met the winners of the Queen’s cup from the Guernsey Royal Agricultural Show and some Guernsey Golden Goats whilst the Duchess of Cornwall met repesentatives from the Guernsey Adult Literacy Project. TRHs visited the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden before departing Saumarez Park. After a tour and meeting staff and patients, TRHs officially opened the new Les Bourgs Hospice.
After retiring at Government House for a brief lunch, TRHs attended an allegiance ceremony at Castle Cornet. After the allegiance ceremony, TRHs met representatives from the Royal Court, the States of Deliberation, local clergy, the parishes of Guernsey and emergency services. TRHs then travelled to Herm via helicopter where they were greeted by Herm tenants Mr John and Mrs Julia Singer. They attended a small reception on the White House Hotel lawn where they met many islanders. TRH’s then returned to Government House via helicopter. In the evening, they attended a private dinner with His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor at Government House, where they stayed overnight. On Friday 20th July, TRH’s visited Sark and Alderney before returning to the UK.
More recently, the then Countess of Wessex visited the Channel Islands to mark the 70th Anniversary of Liberation in 2015.
Royal Visits to Guernsey | Royal Visits to Jersey | Islands
