While on a two-day trip to Jersey, a part of the British Isles, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were briefly disrupted by a security concern.
During their visit to the Jersey Expo on Monday, July 15, 2024, their security detail swiftly moved them to safety at the closeby Pomme D’or Hotel. The incident was later confirmed to be a false alarm, suspected to have been triggered by a drone.
The security alert happened while the king and queen were interacting with local entrepreneurs and the public. Eamon Fenlon, Managing director of Jersey Dairy, remembered, “I had just given the queen an ice cream and turned to get one myself. When I looked back, she had been whisked away. Some people mentioned a drone, but I’m unsure if that’s official.”
Just before the security issue, Matt Taylor, the founder of Jersey Sea Salt, had a brief interaction with the king. “He stopped at the stall and said, ‘Ooh, sea salt.’ I invited him to chat, but his security team appeared and said he had to leave immediately. They were quite stern but not panicked. It’s a shame as he had stopped to chat to us of his own accord,” Taylor said.
The security alert occurred just as the royal couple had started their third engagement of the day at Weighbridge Place. After approximately 20 minutes, during which thorough checks were performed, King Charles and Queen Camilla were able to resume their public duties, which included meeting local schoolchildren and attending a tea party.
A royal source remarked on the incident: “There was a minor concern, but an investigation revealed it was a false alarm. All necessary precautions were taken, and the event resumed shortly after that.”
This trip is King Charles’ first visit to Jersey since becoming king. He expressed his pleasure at returning to the island, which he described as “a beautiful and unique place,” and fondly recalled his late mother. The royal couple arrived at St. Helier’s Royal Square and were warmly welcomed, despite the inclement weather.
Upon their arrival, they were guided into the square by a Royal Mace, a gift from Charles II in 1663. They walked down a red carpet lined by local legal professionals, Jurats, elected officials, and guests. As the king and queen ascended the stage, the guests sang the national anthem. The Bailiff, the president of the States Assembly, gave a Loyal Address to welcome them, followed by a response from King Charles.
“Mr. Bailiff, I am most grateful to you and the States for the warm welcome you have extended to both my wife and myself and for the assurances of devotion, loyalty, and allegiance to the Crown you have expressed on behalf of the people of Jersey,” said King Charles. He reminisced about their last visit in 2012, during his late mother’s Diamond Jubilee, and expressed his eagerness to create new memories on this trip.
As part of their trip, the king and queen attended a special sitting of the States Assembly and the Royal Court. They received locally laid duck eggs as a gift, a symbol of sustenance, replacing the old tradition of presenting the monarch with two dead ducks. Five senior seigneurs, or lords of the manor, paid homage, each stepping up and clasping hands with the monarch.
King Charles also highlighted the island’s loyalty to the Crown. This goes back to the time of William the Conqueror’s son, Henry I, who took over the Duchy of Normandy, including the islands, in 1106. The king and queen’s itinerary included various activities, such as visiting local industries like agriculture and fishing, and a tea party at the Pomme D’or Hotel with veterans, royal patronages, and emergency service representatives.
Despite the brief interruption, the king and queen’s visit proceeded smoothly, demonstrating their dedication to their royal duties and rapport with the people of Jersey.