As Islanders battled to stay cool yesterday, the Duchess of Edinburgh had the best available seat as she became the first member of the Royal Family to visit the Ecréhous.
In glorious sunshine and on flat calm sea, Her Royal Highness was in the front row of a RIB which whizzed the royal party across to the offshore reef, making the most of the cooler sea air and attracting a pod of dolphins for a brief spell of escort duty.
Many of those who have huts at the Ecréhous were present to welcome the Duchess, who admired the Royal Standard flying from a specially-erected flagpole and unveiled a plaque.
Residents association chair Ian Mitchell made a short welcome speech in the “Royal Square” – the small enclosed area on the main Marmotière island, including a Customs hut – while there were also short presentations from marine operations officials about work to preserve the environment of the Ramsar site.
The plaque was due to be affixed to the communal bench enjoyed by residents and visitors while having morning coffee or evening sundowners, but this part of the reef was temporarily off-limits with a family of terns having nested nearby.
Other features of the royal visit touched on many elements of Jersey’s farming and fishing industries.
At the first stop, Trinity Manor Farm, the Duchess met a five-day-old calf called Louise and chatted with Project Trident student Zara Hughes (15) from Beaulieu Convent School.
She was later given a run-down on how Jersey Dairy works with farmers to meet the highest environmental and welfare standards.
At Peacock Farm, it was the Jersey Royal potato that was the main focus, with a presentation by the Jersey Farmers Union and the chance to join pupils from St Martin’s Primary School in harvesting some spuds.
The Royal cavalcade, with police outriders and honorary officers stationed along the route, then made its way east to St Catherine’s where there was the chance to check out the culinary skills of pupils from Les Quennevais and JCG taking part in the Fish in School Heros programme.
After trying her piloting skills operating a remote vehicle from the slipway, the Duchess went aboard the trawler Jade-S and was on hand to watch a pot full of lobsters and crabs being hauled to the surface.
An evening reception took place at Government House with the Duchess meeting representatives from the NSPCC, while another Island charity, EYECAN, hosted the final leg of the royal visit this morning at its base at Westlea in St Martin.
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