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The Bailiwick marked Proclamation Day 24 hours after the UK, and the wording of our Proclamation was different, with King Charles III replacing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II as 'Notre Duc'.
This reflects the fact that the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey are the only parts of the former Duchy of Normandy which remains loyal to the British Crown.
The Channel Islands’ connection to the Crown stretches back centuries
It is this connection which gives our islands their status as Crown Dependencies, and which makes us British but not part of the UK, and which gives us our Duc rather than a King, or Queen.
The Channel Islands formally became part of the Duchy of Normandy in 933, with Normandy and England coming under a common ruler from 1066 following the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.
Pictured: Guernsey is a Crown Dependency, and is part of the former Duchy of Normandy.
Although King John lost continental Normandy in 1204, the Channel Islands stayed loyal to the English Crown.
The relationship between the Channel Islands and the monarchy was formalised in 1259 with the Treaty of Paris agreed between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France.
Although Henry III abandoned his right to the title 'Duke of Normandy', his rights to the islands were confirmed and he continued ruling the islands in that capacity.
The islands have continued to observe their own established laws, liberties and customs ever since. These rights have been confirmed through a series of Charters by successive Kings and Queens and are the origins and basis of our status as a Crown Dependency.
Through this tradition, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was known in the Bailiwick of Guernsey as The Queen, but through our connection with the Duchy of Normandy, her official title in the islands was 'Notre Duc' ('Our Duke').
Pictured: The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in Sark in 1949.
As Queen, she retained the masculine title of Duc as the successor to those Dukes of Normandy from prior to the Battle of Hastings. The King will use the Duc title in the Channel Islands too.
Those attending, or watching, the Proclamation Day ceremonies in Guernsey yesterday will have noticed that the formal Proclamation was made in English, but the response was in French.
Although Guernesiase was spoken widely prior to the 20th Century, the official language of Guernsey's courts and laws has always been French.
The cry of ‘Dieu Sauve Le Roi’ translates to 'God Save The King'.
Through the islands allegiance to the Crown the British Monarch appoints our Bailiff, who is the head of the Bailiwick's judiciary and 'Speaker' in the States Assembly.
The Monarch also appoints a representative to reside in the island. The current Lieutenant Governor is His Excellency Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell.
Both the Bailiff, and Lieutenant Governor, and all members of the judiciary including Judges, Jurat and advocates, along with all elected political representatives in the island, and all involved in writing our laws and upholding them, are asked to swear allegiance to the Crown.
Pictured: The Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff reaffirming the oath of allegiance to His Majesty, the King.
As all had previously sworn allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, they yesterday reaffirmed this allegiance by swearing an Oath to His Majesty King Charles III.
As subjects of King Charles III, any Channel Islander who chooses to serve in the military will do so in His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
The official Proclamation read out in Guernsey on Sunday 11 September is below:
"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George; We, therefore, the Lieutenant-Governor, Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, King’s Officers, Jurats, Members of the States of Deliberation, Clergy, and others, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all Faith and Obedience with humble Affection; beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign over us."
Pictured: HM Sheriff, Jason Savident, reading the Proclamation on Sunday 11 September, 2022.
At the end of this, the Sheriff called out "God Save The King" to which those present were asked to respond "Dieu Sauve Le Roi".
Pictured top: The then Prince of Wales at Saumarez Park, July 2012 (Tracey Bougourd).
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