"I'm really annoyed we didn't get over there!"

Wednesday 17 July 2024

The King expressed his personal disappointment at being unable to visit Sark and Alderney in person during his day trip to Guernsey.

His Majesty spent time in Guernsey yesterday with a programme events focused on both of the smaller islands of the Bailiwick at Les Cotils during the afternoon.

This was his first visit to the Bailiwick as Monarch but his busy schedule meant he didn't have time to travel to either Alderney or Sark.

Island dignitaries and members of the public made the journey to Guernsey to see him instead.

His Majesty was overheard telling two men that "I'm really annoyed we didn't get over there!" as he gestured towards Sark from the gardens at Les Cotils.

Pictured: The King and Queen are believed to have met everyone who travelled over from Sark for the occasion.

The Seigneur said around 200 people travelled over from Sark for the occasion.

"I don't think it could have gone much better," Major Christopher Beaumont said.

"Once you bring the children, the parents have to come too, and so it's had a nice impact. We've got a great view, you can see the island from here, it's a nice site, it's compact so nobody has to go very far.

"When the King and Queen went around, I think he shook hands with everybody, I don't think anyone was left out.

"There's some interesting people who were here when we were liberated, the emergency services who are all volunteers, and this is the sort of thing that you know, ticks their boxes."

As well as bringing over around a quarter of the island's population, Sark brought over a couple of special chairs too. 

"The chairs were the same chairs that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sat on in 1978 when my father took his oath," explained the Seigneur.

"We brought them over here and that's where they were sitting."

Pictured: The ornate wooden chairs that the King and Queen sat on for the loyal address from Sark are the same ones previously used by His Majesty's parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Major Beaumont said that overall he is really pleased with the outcome of the day's events for Sark.

"(When) it became apparent that we were going to have to come here if we were going to take part in the day, we came in full force and it has gone as well as it could.

"I don't think it could have gone any better."

The President of the States of Alderney was similarly pleased with how his island's programme of events had gone despite the wind forcing a change of plan for some of those who had intended to travel over.

"Unfortunately, at five o'clock, we had to make the decision (on Monday) (to cancel). We had to look at the smaller numbers that we had and give the best of Alderney for that, and I think we've achieved it," explained William Tate.

"It was a great honour and a privilege for us all."

Pictured: The President of the States of Alderney gave the loyal address for his island, with King Charles III responding.

Mr Tate said Alderney's original plans had included bringing over more of the island's school pupils and some of the oldest residents who were evacuated and then returned as part of the Homecoming generation in 1945.

This episode in the island's history was reflected in Alderney's programme of events with a recitation of the Alderney Poem - also known as 'Alderney's Momentous Question'.

"It's a really powerful piece, and and it's one that we read every year at Homecoming, and it's sort of part and parcel of that tradition and I think really what (the King and Queen) took away from that was what had happened here during that period of 1940 to 1945 and His Majesty was aware that there was no wood left on the island.

"What I tried to emphasise was that it was the tenacity and the determination of those people that came back to rebuild their community in which we're all privileged to live (and) the key to it all is that without that Alderney would not be the rich community it is now, and we owe a real debt of gratitude."

Pictured: Alderney student Courtney read 'Alderney's Momentous Question' to the King and Queen.

An Alderney student who lives in Guernsey was asked to step in at the last minute to read the Alderney Poem after St Anne's school pupils and the Homecoming generation were unable to travel over in the numbers planned.

"We had two of the Homecomers who were coming down today, but unfortunately, the weather beat us and they couldn't come, but Courtney stepped in at very, very short notice and did an absolutely magnificent job.

"Courtney really typifies everything that's great about Alderney. We approached her yesterday and we asked her if she'd do it. She said yes and she just, to use the expression, knocked it out of the park. She just delivered it perfectly."

Mr Tate said it was obvious that both the King and Queen found the Alderney Poem very interesting and moving. 

"I think they both were taken with the emotion and I think that really was the takeaway from that. I think for me, the highlight of the day was to see them engage with Courtney and to really understand how important that is to us."

Mr Tate said that Alderney's programme of events focused on the past and the future though with displays including one from Alderney Energy where Managing Director James Lancaster discussed the island's plans for renewable energy with His Majesty.

Pictured: Alderney Electricity MD James Lancaster discussed the island's plans for renewable energy with the King.

"We've had from the past to the future with Alderney and (renewable energy) is a very big part of our future because we've got to find ways...we're a community that relies on fossil fuel, and that's not going to be sustainable in the long term. He was very interested in that.

"But in all of that the human element is what really drives our community and it's that sense and the way in which everybody just stepped up. We've done the best we can with the limited resources we have and I think we've done Alderney proud, especially because some people didn't manage to make it over."

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