No royal visitor to Jersey for Liberation 80

Princess Anne will be in Guernsey and Sark for Liberation 80, but Jersey is not getting a royal visitor.

The Princess Royal will be in Guernsey on 9 May and in Sark on 10 May for the 80th anniversary of the islands' Liberation from German rule at the end of World War II.

Her Royal Highness will meet people who lived through the Occupation, including evacuees and veterans.

A full programme is yet to be announced, but it does not include a visit to Jersey.

Jersey has had a royal visitor for each of the most recent landmark anniversaries.  Sophie, Countess of Wessex (now Duchess of Edinburgh) was here for Liberation 70.

She returned in 2022 with Prince Edward, after their visit for Liberation 75 was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2005, Queen Elizabeth II joined islanders to commemorate 60 years of freedom, and on 9 May 1995 it was a then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales who came to Jersey.

Now King Charles III, he returned to the island as monarch last July with Queen Camilla.

Read: Jersey's Royal Visit cost almost £500k

Jersey's Bailiff The Bailiff of Jersey, Sir Timothy Le Cocq said;

"Jersey and Guernsey have good reason to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Liberation and it is wonderful, and perhaps in keeping with a broader tradition, that both islands are celebrating in different ways.

"I am pleased that Jersey will be hosting members of the international and regional diplomatic community, including His Excellency Mr Miguel Berger, the German Ambassador to the Court of St James’s.

"For me it is very important to ensure we share our culture and heritage with others and it is an important signal in these times of global uncertainty, that the German Ambassador takes part in our milestone commemoration.

"We see this engagement and that of other attending diplomats as a way of Jersey celebrating its place in the international community, a way of looking outward as well as inward, and that has been our focus.

"I am also very pleased to hear that Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal will be visiting Guernsey to celebrate their anniversary. Jersey is very fortunate to host HRH the Princess Royal on a frequent basis primarily due to HRH’s Patronage of Durrell and I am sure she will make Guernsey’s celebration special to islanders.

"I, with the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister, want to ensure that our Senior Citizens who experience wartime Britain and our young people who will carry on the memories and maintain the importance of our freedom, will enjoy not only Liberation Day but also the activities surrounding 9th May."