King and Queen's historic visit excites royal fans

Geoff Le Gallez has admired the royals since Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Guernsey in 1957

Royal enthusiasts have shared fond memories of the Royal Family before King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in Guernsey later.

Geoff Le Gallez, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, said he felt he could relate to the monarch as the King undergoes his own cancer treatment.

He said of his visit to the island: "It's going to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people."

The visit to Guernsey comes after the pair visited Jersey on Monday.

• Map revealed of King and Queen's route

Mr Le Gallez said he started admiring the royals after seeing Queen Elizabeth II at Cambridge Park in 1957.

"She was just an awesome lady," he said.

"Hard act to follow [for the King] but I'm convinced he'll do it."

He said he wished the King well with his cancer treatment.

"I've been one of the lucky ones in that I've been given the all-clear, and I hope he gets that," he said.

Asked if he had a message for the King, he said: "Welcome to Guernsey."

Pam Bartlett said she became fascinated with the Royal Family when she was 13

Pam Bartlett is another royalist excited about the arrival of the King.

Ms Bartlett was 13 when she listened to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on the radio, collecting newspapers, magazines and memorabilia about the Royal Family ever since.

She recalled Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip drove a Land Rover along rows of islanders on their visit to Guernsey in 1957.

And in 2012, she was in the crowd at Castle Cornet when King Charles last visited Guernsey as the Prince of Wales.

Speaking about this visit to the Channel Islands, she said: "I think it's great because he's not a well man and he's come to visit it us in the second year of his reign.

"I think he's doing too much but I'm still pleased to see him."