19th July 2012

Prince Charles and Camilla visit Guernsey

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had originally planned to spend just a single day in Guernsey in July 2012 celebrating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. In the end, they spent two after the trip was extended so they could visit some of the other islands in the Bailiwick.

When the royal couple’s full itinerary was released just over a week in advance of their 2012 visit, they were scheduled to stop at Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark, flying back and forth between them by helicopter.

Four-island schedule

After arriving at Guernsey Airport, they started their tour at Saumarez Park with a tour of the walled garden and greenhouse. Prince Charles tried his hand at plate spinning as part of a circus skills workshop. From Saumarez Park, they proceeded to open the £4m Les Bourgs Hospice, which had been welcoming residents since the beginning of the year. Finally, they attended a ceremony affirming the Bailiwick’s allegiance to the crown at Castle Cornet, which had been closed for two days for preparations.

They flew to Herm that afternoon to meet the tenants, John and Julia Singer.

Their second day was spent on Sark and Alderney. They unveiled a plaque and visited both Island Hall and the Seigneurie while on Sark, and viewed an exhibition of paintings on Alderney.

The trip was Prince Charles’ fifth visit to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, after two in 1976, one in 1995 and another in 2004. In 1995, he had unveiled the Liberation Monument in St Peter Port to celebrate the end of the Occupation 50 years earlier. It was the first time he had been accompanied by Camilla.