King George V
King George V
1921
The official programme for the visit, which today sells for £50
King George V and his consort Queen Mary visited Jersey on 12 July 1921, accompanied by their daughter Princess Mary. He was only the second reigning monarch to pay an official royal visit to the island, following in the footsteps of his grandmother Queen Victoria
Royal Squadron
The Royal party travelled in style on the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, accompanied by the Royal Yacht Alexandre, HMS Cleopatra, a light cruiser, HMS Wryneck and HMS Watchman, both destroyers. Also in the Royal Squadron were the French cruiser La Provence and two destroyers.
Guernsey
The party first visited Guernsey and attended a sitting of Chief Pleas at St George's Hall. Loyal addresses were read on behalf of the people of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, and the French community.
The King received the homage of the Seigneurs of Sausmarez, Bruneaux, St Martin's, Henri de Vaugrat and Canely and Fantome. He knighted the Bailiff, Edward Chapmell Ozanne, and decorated a number of islanders.
Jersey
As the Royal party travelled in their vedette from the Royal Yacht to the Harbour a 21-gun salute was fired from Fort Regent and the island's church bells were rung.
The King was received at 10.30 am by the Lieut-Governor Sir William Douglas Smith, the Bailiff, Sir William Venables Vernon, and Col F H Voisin, and R R Lempriere, Seigneur of Rosel, and Maj J F Giffard, Seigneur of Augres, who owed the service of riding into the sea up to their saddle girths on the Sovereign's arrival and departure.
After inspecting about 2,500 ex-service men drawn up on the Albert Pier and a further 500 French ex-service men, the Royal Party was driven to the Royal Square where they were met at the Public Library by the Bailiff and the Viscount. The Jersey Choral Society sang the National Anthem and the Queen and Princess were presented with bouquets.
Raoul Lempriere's Customs, Ceremonies and Traditions of the Channel Islands takes up the story:
- "A procession was then formed. At its head was the Viscount, acting as Marshal, behind him walked the two dénonciateurs, carrying respectively the royal mace and the banner of arms of the bailiwick. Behind them walked the King and the Bailiff, the Queen and the Lieut-Governor, the Princess and the Royal Suite. the halberdiers were lined up on each side of the entrance and up the steps of the Public Library.
- "There followed a ceremony in the States Chamber where a loyal address of welcome was read by the Bailiff and replied to by the King speaking in French. At the close of the reply the Members of the States and the members of the public in the galleries cried out "Vive le Roi, notre Duc!, Vive la Reine!". It was then announced that His Majesty had been pleased to confer a number of honours, and these were presented by the King.
- "This was followed by the Ceremony of Homage in the Royal Court. The royal procession entered the Royal Court Room in the same order as it had entered the States Chamber, with the exeption that the banner of arms had been deposited by dénonciateur P J Sohier over the canopy above the Bailiff's and Lieut-Governor's chairs, where it was permanently to remain.
- "When they entered the Court Room the King seated himself in the Bailiff's chair and the Queen in the Lieut-Governor's chair. The Bailiff stood beside the King and asked His Majesty whether it was his wish that the lords of the manor should pay homage. Clasping hands and leaning towards the King the Lords of the Manor spoke the words of homage Je suis votre homme lège a vous porter foi et hommage contre tous. The King then clasped the Lord of St Ouen by the hands, as being the senior, and bowing, acknowledged the homage thus paid.
- "The Lord of the Manor of Trinity then, in accordance with the terms of his tenure, presented the King with two mallards or wild ducks [1], which having been received by His Majesty were handed to the Receiver-General."
Afternoon visits
During the afternoon the Royal party went on a tour of the east of the island. The visited Victoria College, and while the King was being welcomed by the headmaster, staff and pupils, Princess Mary inspected the island's Guides who assembled on the cricket ground. The colours were carried by Doris Noel and Olive Le Clerq.
Then on to Mont Orgueil Castle where the King and Queen were met by a guard of halberdiers. At the main gateway the sergeant lowered his halberd across the entrance and challenged "Chi va la?" (Who goes there?). The Bailiff replied "Le Roy" (The King).
The next visit was to Rosel Manor where the Seigneur, as hereditary butler to the Sovereign, served tea to the royal party in a marquee in the lower ward. They then returned to St Helier Harbour, and another royal salute was fired from Fort Regent as their launch headed out the to Royal Yacht slightly ahead of the scheduled time of 5.40 pm.
Parish emblems
It is generally supposed that the island's 12 parish emblems have a long history, but they were actually designed to commemorate the Royal visit in 1921. The badges were designed by A G Wright, assisted by Major Norman Rybot who redesigned them in 1923.
Government House scrapbook
A scrapbook of pictures of the 1921 visit, and other memorabilia, was kept at Government House and eventually found its way to Jersey Archive, via the Jersey Public Library, where it was kept for many years. The scrapbook gives a fascinating insight into the planning for the visit and includes the letter of thanks sent by the King from his Royal Yacht after his departure from Jersey, as well as a menu for the official dinner he hosted on the yacht, signed by himself and Queen Mary.
Gallery of further pictures
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The King's barge arrives in the Harbour -
Landing at the Harbour -
The King comes ashore at the Albert Pier landing stage -
The King inspects a guard of honour on the Albert Pier -
On the Albert Pier -
The King is greeted by ex-servicemen -
The guns above Fort Regent ready to fire a 21-gun welcoming salute -
A group of French officers were presented to the King at Government House -
The King and Queen arrive at the States Building -
A bouquet for Queen Mary at the States Building. Is the observant man on the left a Royal bodyguard? -
The King at Victoria College -
At the College -
Driving across the island -
In King Street -
The Royal visitors pass through Bath Street - picture by Edwin Dale -
A Jersey cow was presented to George V on the occasion of his official visit to the island -
Another view of the cow being presented -
At Springfield -
Major L'Amy salutes the King -
At Springfield -
Ready to leave Springfield -
Schoolchildren see their King -
King Street decorated for the 1921 Royal Visit -
The King is presented with a replica Baton de Justice -
Arrival in Guernsey -
Guard of honour in Guernsey -
Guernsey nurses -
The King makes a speech in Guernsey -
At Mont Orgueil Castle -
Signing the visitors' book at Mont Orgueil
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Bouquets for the Queen and Princess outside the Public Library -
Princess Mary inspects the Island Guides -
A bouquet for Queen Mary -
Mont Orgueil -
Mont Orgueil -
Mont Orgueil -
Mont Orgueil -
Mont Orgueil -
At Mont Orgueil -
At Mont Orgueil -
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St Ouen's Manor gate -
Preparing to greet George V at St Ouen’s Manor -
Some of the dignitaries who gathered at Springfield -
George V arrives at the States Building on his official visit to the island -
Royal visit commemorative medal -
Royal visit commemorative medal -
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Flags fly in Library Place -
Ladies await the King and Queen -
King Street decorated for the visit -
King Street -
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Mont Orgueil -
Queen Mary at La Lande Vinery -
Springfield -
St John -
St Mary -
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Leaving Mont Orgueil Castle -
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Dame Mary Rougier presents spurs owned by Charles II and handed down through her family -
At Government House -
The traditional gift from the Seigneur of Trinity of two mallards -
Princess Mary inspecting Girl Guides
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A card sent by the Bailiff and Lieut-Governor recognising the Royal chauffeur's contribution to the visit -
A certificate recording A E Godel's involvement in the visit
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Invitation cards to events during the visit ... -
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The Bailiff's Loyal address to the King and Queen ... -
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Notes and references
- ↑ Editor's note: Although Lempriere used the term 'Lord of the Manor' he should more properly have referred to the Seigneurs of the Fiefs. It is not clear when, or how, this supposed tradition of presenting the Sovereign with two mallards originated. George V was only the second reigning monarch to visit the island, following two visits by his grandmother, Queen Victoria. There is no record of her being presented with mallards and the 'so-called tradition', which was continued for Queen Elizabeth, may have been an invention
