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King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be visiting the Channel Islands next month, it has been confirmed – with a special open-air expo planned to "showcase the best of Jersey" during the visit.
Their Majesties will arrive in Jersey on Monday 15 July, before progressing to Guernsey the following day.
While details of the full programme are yet to be confirmed, the Bailiff's Chambers confirmed that the focus of the visit will be in St Helier, including a Special Sitting of the States Assembly and the Royal Court.
This will be followed by a large-scale open air expo promising to "showcase the best of Jersey in one area" which will be open to the public after the visit.
The visit will mark the fifth time that King Charles III has been in Jersey – his most recent being in 2012 for the late Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee – and the first overnight trip since his diagnosis of cancer. It has, however, been nearly 20 years since a serving Monarch has visited the islands.
The Royal visit was confirmed in the States Assembly this morning by Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae.
Video: The Deputy Bailiff shared news of the visit in this morning's States Assembly meeting.
"I am delighted to announce that on Monday 15 July the island will host the first visit of the Sovereign since 2005," he said.
"His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Jersey on the morning of Monday 15 July before visiting Guernsey on Tuesday 16 July. Their visit will include a special sitting of the States Assembly and the Royal Court and I very much look forward to this and the rest of the programme that has been planned for the visit."
His Excellency The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE, said he was "delighted" to be able to share the "fantastic news".
"Their visit is a reflection of the ancient and very personal relationship which has existed between Jersey, as one of the Crown's oldest possessions, and the Monarch which stretches back eight centuries," he said.
Pictured: The Lieutenant Governor said the King and Queen are "looking forward greatly" to their visit.
"As His Majesty's personal representative on this wonderful island, I am extremely proud of the island, and the enduring affection and loyalty of its people to the Crown.
"The binding benefits of this special relationship remain as strong as ever and I know Their Majesties are looking forward greatly to their visit next month."
The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, commented: "On behalf of the Government of Jersey, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Their Majesties.
"It is a matter of great pride to islanders that the King and Queen have chosen to visit Jersey, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our long and deep relationship with the Crown."
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Pictured: His Royal Highness working at La Cotte in 1968. (Société Jersiaise Photo Archive)
The then-Prince Charles visited Jersey for the first time in 1968 when he was a young archeology student at Cambridge University.
On 9 May 1995, His Royal Highness visited Jersey to take part in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation, which included the unveiling of the Liberation sculpture.
On Tuesday 22 June 2004, His Royal Highness arrived in Jersey in celebration of the island's 800 years of allegiance to the Crown. It was one year before Queen Elizabeth II's final visit to the island.
On 18 July 2012, High Royal Highness and the then-Duchess of Cornwall visited the island on behalf of The Queen in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee.
It was the first time that the Duchess of Cornwall accompanied His Royal Highness on a visit to the Channel Islands.
Read more about each of the visits HERE.
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