Message of Royal regrets
THE Royal couple who were to have visited the Bailiwick this weekend have said in a letter how much they had been looking forward to meeting islanders, especially those who had lived through the Occupation and Liberation.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were scheduled to visit Guernsey, Sark and Jersey on behalf of The Queen to join the commemorations for the liberation of each island. The visit to both Bailiwicks was cancelled in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to the Lt-Governor, The Duke of Gloucester said he and his wife were sorry that they would not be here.
The Lt-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, said: ‘It’s a great shame that the Royal visit could not go ahead, as part of the islands’ original liberation plans. The Duke’s letter makes clear that Their Royal Highnesses were very much looking forward to being present for such an important anniversary of a British wartime experience that was exclusive to the Channel Islands.’
He said their Royal Highnesses also recalled fond memories of previous visits to Guernsey and Sark, and hoped to visit again soon.
The Duke of Gloucester has several military connections to Force 135, the special formation that liberated the Channel Islands in May 1945.
