King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Visit Guernsey
The government has declared a public holiday in Guernsey to commemorate the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, with Jersey’s government considering a similar move.
Their Majesties are scheduled to visit the Islands on Monday, July 16th.
Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development has sanctioned the public holiday to honor the historic occasion of King Charles III’s first visit since his Accession to the throne. The Committee emphasized the significance of Guernsey’s constitutional ties as a Crown Dependency and upheld the tradition of declaring a public holiday for royal visits, a practice that dates back to Queen Elizabeth II’s visits starting in 1957.
Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Committee for Economic Development, expressed his delight: “We are thrilled to announce a public holiday for the visit of Their Majesties. It is an historic event worthy of celebration.
“While we acknowledge the short notice, which may affect some businesses and services that must remain operational, we hope the public will understand the urgency of our decision given the proximity of the visit. Most importantly, we aim to give as many people as possible the chance to see Their Majesties during their stay.”
In Jersey, the Council of Ministers plans to submit a draft amendment to the States Assembly, proposing a public holiday on Monday, July 15, 2024, to coincide with the royal visit.
This proposal follows discussions with the Bailiff’s Consultative Panel and the Comité des Connétables.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham, the Chief Minister, stated: “The visit of Their Majesties offers a splendid opportunity to celebrate our enduring and loyal relationship with the Crown. We are proposing a public holiday to mark this special occasion and to allow as many Islanders as possible to participate in the festivities.”