Royals' Guernsey visit costs government £110,600

Guernsey's government said the King and Queen's visit highlighted the relationship between the bailiwick and the Crown

King Charles III and Queen Camilla's visit to Guernsey in July cost the island's government £110,600, according to newly-released figures.

The figure from the States of Guernsey covered the costs of preparation, setting up sites and clearing away afterwards.

The government said the event led to "valuable" media coverage and helped highlight the relationship between the bailiwick and the Crown.

The Bailiff's Office, Government House and the States of Guernsey said they were extremely grateful to people who provided products and services at no charge.

Guernsey welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the island on 16 July 2024 for their first visit since His Majesty's accession to the throne.

An estimated 15,000 people gathered at the St Peter Port seafront and Cambridge Park to see the couple, and more lined the routes to wave as they drove past.

'Millions of online views'

The States said the £110,600 costs included a special States of Deliberation meeting and ceremony of homage and displays of Guernsey's culture, heritage, produce and environment.

The fee also covered a tea party on the Crown Pier, public entertainment at Cambridge Park and events at Les Cotils.

The States said extensive national media coverage of the visit included "valuable, but unpaid, column inches and beautiful images in the mainstream newspapers, websites, TV channels and social media".

It added: "There was a spike in the number of visits to the Visit Guernsey website immediately after the visit.

"Analysis of the coverage of the Their Majesties' visit to Guernsey identified more than 300 pieces of online, TV, radio and print coverage, and found that it reached three million international print media readers and 50 million online views."