First royal visit to peninsula to mark Liberation Day

Yahoo

10-05-2025

Residents in Little Sark have been enjoying their first royal visit as part of Liberation Day celebrations.
The Princess Royal arrived on the peninsula on 10 May to mark 80 years since the Channel Islands were liberated from Nazi occupation during World War Two.
During her visit she unveiled a Liberation Day plaque at The Avenue on Sark and listened to children from the island sing a song in Sercquaise.
The Seigneur of Sark, Christopher Beaumont, said: "She has a very full programme. I'm sure she will be blown away by the beauty of the island."
The princess crossed the La Coupée to Little Sark at about 11:00 BST, becoming the first Royal to visit the island.
La Coupée is a distinctive narrow strip of land, connecting Little Sark with the main island.
Princess Anne then walked down The Avenue while flags were raised at Sark Art Gallery and spoke to islanders who had been liberated from German occupation.
There was an opportunity to meet Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas at The Avenue and a street party after the unveiling of the plaque with performances, events and games.
The princess toured the Cider Barn, one of the oldest buildings on the island, and was driven to lunch by horse and carriage.
Philip Perrée was the carriage driver and said it was a "great honour" to see the princess arriving.
His grandfather drove the horse and carriage for the late Queen Elizabeth II "many years ago", and he described it as "quite an honour" to now do the same for the Princess Royal.
In the afternoon the princess planted a tree to mark Sark's liberation.
Princess Anne was then presented with a bunch of flowers from five-year-old Paisley, who said she "loved meeting a real princess".
During her visit Princess Anne will also receive a briefing on two commando raids, Operations Hardtack and Basalt, while a Royal Navy vessel, HMS Medusa, keeps watch off Sark's coast.
There was an opportunity to meet Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas at The Avenue and a street party after the unveiling of the plaque with performances, events and games.
The princess is due to leave Sark at 14:00.
Islanders are also encouraged to dress up and take part in a cavalcade to St Peter's Church and the Millennium Field on Sunday.
In the afternoon, a theatre sketch called The Dame of Sark and a screening of Appointment with Venus, a film set in the Occupation of Sark, will follow the school's Liberation display.
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