LOOK BACK: Alderney's Royal past

Friday 28 June 2024

"We are bringing the best of Alderney to Guernsey" William Tate has promised, ahead of next month's Royal Visit to the Bailiwick.

The President of the States of Alderney can't yet comment on what exactly his island will be doing to mark King Charles III's first to the Channel Islands as Monarch, but he has said a programme of events are being finalised.

Those events will all be taking place in Guernsey, as the King and his Queen Consort don't have time to also visit the other islands of the Bailiwick on this occasion. 

When the visit was announced earlier this month it was stated that "Their Majesties' programme will include elements that showcase the communities of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, our unique local culture and heritage, and the Bailiwick's commitment to supporting biodiversity, sustainability and combatting climate change."

Pictured: King Charles III will make his first visit to the Bailiwick as Monarch on Tuesday 16 July, 2024. 

Although His Majesty won't be setting foot on Alderney during his visit to the Bailiwick next month, he will be meeting representatives of the island - some of whom he may have met on his only prior visit to the island.

King Charles III visited Alderney in 2012 - when he was Prince of Wales, a position he held for 64 years.

During that visit, His Majesty toured Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm, accompanied by his Queen Consort Camilla, then titled the Duchess of Cornwall.

The then-Prince of Wales also met representatives of Alderney during a trip to Guernsey 20 years ago, in June 2004.

On that occasion His Majesty spent a day in Guerney, and also fitted in a short trip to Herm. 

Representatives from Alderney and Sark were both invited to Guernsey to meet His Majesty at Beau Sejour. The affirmation of allegiance to the Crown was held at the leisure centre along with a screening of a multi-media presentation on Guernsey's origins which was produced by school children. Following that, the then-Prince of Wales met States Members, Law Officers of the Crown, Jurats of the Royal Court, representatives from Alderney and Sark, and representatives of charities of which he is a Patron or President.

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II visited Alderney in 1949, 1978, 1989, and 2001. She was greeted by school children outside St Anne's School during her visit in 2001. 

At least two past Monarchs and at least two Consorts have also visited Alderney.

The late Queen Elizabeth II visited Alderney on three occasions as Monarch and once as Heir assumptive. 

Her Majesty's first visit was in June 1949 - accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first time the Royal couple had visited the Bailiwick - touring Alderney, Sark, and Guernsey, after also visiting Jersey.

Her Majesty made her second visit, and her first as Monarch in 1978, when she and Prince Philip sailed into Alderney waters on HMS Britannia. In 1989 the Royal couple made a return visit where they attended a formal reception at the Island Hall.

Her Majesty's final visit to Alderney was in 2001, when she flew in for a brief visit which included planting a tree.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Queen Victoria both toured the island in 1975 and 1854 respectively. 

Alderney has been host to multiple other Royal guests too with Queen Victoria's the oldest recorded Royal visit. 

Other more recent Royal visitors have included Princess Margaret in 1959, Princess Alexandra in 1968 and 1990, Princess Anne in 1972, the Duchess of Kent in 1985 and 1995, the Duchess of Gloucester in 1992, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex in 2009.

Pictured top: Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with Jon Kay-Mouat, then President of the States of Alderney, outside the Island Hall on May 24, 1989.