Royal Visit: Your guide to the King and Queen's Guernsey visit

Saturday, 13 July 2024 07:00

We've been finding out exactly what King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be doing during their visit to Guernsey.

Expectation is building ahead of Guernsey’s first visit of the King and Queen.

Royal route to St Peter Port

St Peter Port is going to be the focus of the occasion on Tuesday from 10am (16 July).

This is the route the King and Queen will take to town. People wishing to wave to them as they pass by are advised to take their positions from 10.30am.

His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla are expected at the Quay by late morning.

Following a 21-gun salute from Castle Cornet at around 11.10am, there will be a special outdoor sitting of the States on the seafront.

The National Anthem will play and the Lord’s Prayer will be read in French, before owners of small parcels of land in Guernsey, known as Fiefs, pay homage to the King.

At around midday.,Their Majesties will then head to the landward end of Crown Pier to unveil a special plaque commemorating their visit. This is the same location where the Proclamation of His Majesty was made in 2022.

Guernsey's Proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III on Crown Pier in 2022.

Along the pier, stallholders will showcase the island’s heritage, produce and environmental projects.

This will include locally brewed cider, Guernsey milk and Guernsey jumpers.

La Société Guernesiaise's President Trevor Bourgaize hopes their stall will intrigue the King, and recruit more locals.

"Because the King is such a committed environmentalist, we hope his visit will stimulate some more thoughts on the way we look after our island."

The local Language Commission will be sharing Guernésiais. Banners and QR codes will teach islanders how to say "welcome to Guernsey, your majesties" in the island's native language.

The royal couple will then meet crew members from the RNLI and the St John Marine Ambulance.

St John's Chief Executive Mark Mapp says the organisation has been connected to the monarchy for around a hundred years.

"It started with Queen Victoria, she bestowed a royal charter on St John. Since then, whoever is the sovereign will become the sovereign head of the organisation.

It is particularly fitting his majesty is visiting this year, when the Flying Christine turns 30.

He has been a seaman himself at one point in his career, so I think he will have a real interest in how the vessel performs, responds to the other islands, and the nature of what we do, which is saving lives in the Bailiwick."

The Flying Christine in St Peter Port

The Royal Couple will then go to Government House for other engagements.

The stalls and demonstrations on Crown Pier will remain in place for the afternoon, for islanders to explore between 1-4pm.

Alternatively, islanders could head to Cambridge Park for a picnic from 10am until 4pm. There will be children's entertainment, food vendors, and a large screen at the park that will livestream the seafront events.

Their Majesties are expected to drive by Cambridge Park in the afternoon before attending an event with Alderney and Sark delegations at Les Cotils, due to begin at around 2.40pm.

The President of the States of Alderney, and Sark's Seigneur will meet the King and Queen to discuss their unique communities, histories, and environmental projects.

Students from Sark School and St Anne's School will also attend and perform a short recital.

During his visit, King Charles will also officially bestow the title 'Royal' on the Golden Guernsey Goat.

You can follow the Royal Visit on IslandFM 104.7FM, on social media @IslandFM and online at islandfm.com