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A constitutional expert has warned that any calls for changes to the Bailiwick’s constitutional relationship with the Monarchy must be treated very carefully in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Richard Graham, who served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, was employed as an Aide de Camp to four of Her Lieutenant Governors, was elected to the States of Guernsey and has written books on the constitutional relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the Crown, spoke to Express about his experiences and his opinion of the Monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs.
Pictured: Richard Graham, on duty as ADC to Lieutenant Governor Peter Walker, during a visit by Prince Charles to Guernsey in 2012 (Tracey Bougourd).
“A lot of people have speculated at whether the affection for the institute of the monarchy will dip on the basis that Charles won’t be as popular, and in some circles is unpopular, the public won’t take to his wife, and that sort of thing. I know when I wrote the history of the link between the Crown Dependencies and the Crown, the history is actually the link – not the monarch.
“It (the constitutional relationship) has survived whoever the monarch happens to be. There have been some pretty foul monarchs, and at the end of the day the Crown Dependencies have just sort of shrugged their shoulders and got on with it.
“So, I think if the relationship between the Crown Dependencies and the Crown and the UK changes then it won’t necessarily be because the Queen has died, I think it will be for other reasons.”
Pictured: The Queen visiting Guernsey in 2005 (Chris George).
Colonel Graham wrote about “the story of Guernsey’s allegiance to the English Crown” in his book ‘At Their Majesties’ Service’.
His research led to a factual account of the relationship between the islands and the Crown, from William the Conqueror to the latter years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The book outlines the structure of Guernsey’s Governance and its unique status alongside the other Crown Dependencies of Jersey and the Isle of Man.
Geographically the islands are all part of the British Isles. Politically, as a Crown Dependency, they are a unique territory that comes under the sovereignty of the British Crown, but it is not part of the UK. They are described as ‘self-governing possessions of the British Crown’.
Pictured: Richard Graham (right).
Specifically for the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, having previously been part of the Duchy of Normandy the Channel Islands became part of Britain following the Norman invasion of 1066.
Having served under Her Majesty as a Colonel in Her army, then as the ADC to Sir John Coward, Sir John Foley, Sir Fabian Malbon, and Peter Walker, he has had a vast insight into how that constitutional relationship works in the modern era.
Acknowledging growing republican feeling in some jurisdictions of the Commonwealth, and the public perception of the new King in other areas, Colonel Graham said those issues would need to be set aside if there were to be any serious discussion over changing the Crown Dependencies constitutional relations with the Crown.
Following scandals unconnected with the Crown directly, including Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Colonel Graham said those issues could not be used as valid reasons for splitting with the Crow
Pictured: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Les Bougs Hospice in July 2012 (Tracey Bougourd).
“Getting away from the personals and the individuals, if you look at it in the context of our history as a Crown Dependency, in my view you can’t be a Crown Dependency with all the advantages that has without the Crown.
“I think it’s very easy for generations coming up not to be aware of that. We don’t teach our constitutional relationships in our schools. I think our private colleges do, well Elizabeth college does, but as far as Guernsey history goes, in the States’ schools it’s the Liberation and nothing else.
“Nobody actually teaches them of our origins in Normandy, the link to Normandy, how it all came about, what’s gone into forging this rather curious status of a Crown Dependency.
“I think ignorance of it will lead to neglect of it.
Pictured: The link between Guernsey and the UK is through the Sovereign, but we are represented by the UK Ministry for Justice.
“I don’t think Guernsey can sail on enjoying the status of a Crown Dependency without also embracing the Crown. There will be talk of ‘do we need a Lieutenant Governor?’ Well, it is arguable whether the link with the Crown has to be manifested in such a way, but then you need to say ‘is there a better way of manifesting it?’
“If we don’t want to maintain it, we better start redefining who we are anyway. If we’re not a Crown Dependency, what are we? I think that would be a very awkward question to answer.
“So, my argument when it comes, if anyone raises it, is that ok the Queen may have been very special, but actually she is the latest in a long line of monarchs. Some of whom have been good, some have been bad, some have been neither, but actually the relationship has survived the best part of 1000 years.
"It’s a precious relationship – don’t neglect it. It may just have to be put into practice in a different way, and it always has adapted.”
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