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May 1989 saw Her Majesty the Queen and her husband, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh reunited in Guernsey. While she sailed in to St Peter Port Harbour aboard HMS Britannia, he flew in to the island to meet her, having spent time in the Azores.
This was a two-day visit to the Bailiwick, which started with meeting local dignitaries at Beau Sejour before a visit to the Bailiff’s Chambers. Crowds lined the High Street and surrounding areas as the Royal couple took a walk through central St Peter Port towards the harbour, where the new QE2 marina was officially declared open.
The Royal Hotel welcomed the Queen and Duke visitors for lunch, before their group headed north to meet parish officials and ‘more crowds of people’ in St Sampson, continuing around the island to visit Saumarez Park.
That evening Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a gala reception aboard HMS Britannia and then the following day they set sail for Sark, where the Queen opened the island’s new medical centre, and finally to Alderney for a formal reception at the Island Hall.
As her Majesty’s reign continued into the 21st century her devotion to duty saw her continue to travel to different countries of the Commonwealth regularly.
The Bailiwick was granted a visit early in the new millennium, with the Queen and her husband touring the Bailiwick for a fourth time, in 2001.
This visit came shortly before Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, marking her 50 years as Sovereign. Her continuing popularity after half a century on the throne meant thousands of people greeted Her Majesty on her fifth official visit to the Bailiwick during July 2001.
Beau Sejour was utilised again for the official address before the Royal party moved to Castle Cornet. Confirming the Royal family’s longstanding links with the British Military, the Queen opened the 201 Squadron Museum, documenting ‘Guernsey’s Own’ and its links with the island.
Following a private lunch at Government House, with her representative at the time, Sir John Foley, the Queen flew to Alderney where she was joined by her husband. Together, they stopped briefly in Sark and then flew back to Guernsey where they landed on L’ancresse Common.
Thousands of people were waiting for the Royal walkabout. A plaque was unveiled on the Millenium Stone which had been unveiled on the common the previous year. The Queen’s busy day ended with a gala dinner back at Beau Sejour.
Pictured: The Queen visiting Guernsey in 2005 (image from Chris George).
Whether it was planned to be her final trip, or not, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made her last visit to the Bailiwick on May 9th, 2005. This was the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Channel Islands who had been held by Occupying Forces during the Second World War.
The Royal couple were greeted by ‘hundreds of school children’ when they arrived at the new Guernsey Airport terminal building, to mark this solemn, yet happy occasion.
Her Majesty and Prince Philip were then taken to Beau Sejour, for the Liberation Day Service attended by island dignitaries and invited guests. An exhibition of Liberation memorabilia had been arranged, and members of the Liberated Generation were invited to meet the Queen and Duke.
Sir John Foley was Lieutenant Governor until later in the year so he hosted the Sovereign for a second private lunch at Government House.
Thousands of people assembled in St Peter Port in the meantime, to get a vantage viewing spot for Her Majesty’s final duty of the day. She unveiled a stone to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation. Following this and a walkabout to meet some members of the public, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh flew on to Jersey to continue their tour of the Channel Islands, and departed Guernsey for a final time.
Pictured: The Queen visiting Guernsey in 2005 (image from Chris George).
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