7th June 1945
The king and queen’s liberation visit
The King and Queen – George VI and Elizabeth – should have visited the Channel Islands on 6 June 1945, which Jersey had declared a public holiday so that everyone who wanted to could come out on the street to welcome the royal couple.
However, bad weather saw their trip postponed, and they finally left Portsmouth that evening, sailing overnight on a cruiser called Jamaica, accompanied by four destroyers. They anchored off Elizabeth Castle and a motor launch brought the royal party to St Helier.
Touring the island
The first part of the visit was an hour-long drive around the island’s 12 parishes, followed by an address from the Bailiff in which he restated the island’s loyalty to the crown. They ate a lunch at Government House, consisting of tinned pie and tinned fruit, then flew on to Guernsey.
Unfortunately, communication problems meant that many residents outside of St Helier had been unaware that the visit had been pushed back a day, and they lined the roads in anticipation of the event, which was taking place less than a month after the Channel Islands’ liberation.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in June
Jersey issues £100 notes
- When Britain and beyond celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne in 2012 Jersey produced £100 notes in her honour.
- Read more…
A passenger plane is written off at Jersey Airport
- The undercarriage of a Blue Islands plane collapsed at Jersey Airport when it put down at the end of an 11-minute flight from Guernsey.
- Read more…
Laura Kennington completes three-island triathlon
- Adventurer Laura Kennington undertook one of the most demanding – and unusual – triathlons ever to be hosted in the Channel Islands.
- Read more…
A flotilla of Jersey boats sets sail for Dunkirk
- Volunteers from the St Helier Yacht Club set sail for Dunkirk in June 1940 to help with the rescue of Alied soldiers.
- Read more…