Channel Islands

Alternative meaning: Channel Islands (California)

The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel.

Politically, they are divided between the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey, both of which are British crown dependencies, but not part of the United Kingdom. They are officially part of the Duchy of Normandy and as such, Queen Elizabeth II is often toasted as Duke of Normandy. However, pursuant to the Treaty of Paris (1295) and Salic Law, she technically is not the Duke and instead governs in her right as Queen.

The islands' governments are responsible to The Queen in Council. In 2001 responsibility for links between the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and the Crown passed from the Home Secretary) to the Lord Chancellor's Department. In 2003, this was replaced by a Department of Constitutional Affairs.

The Islands are not part of the European Union. Neither Island has representation in the UK Parliament, being self-governing, but may request that Acts of the UK Parliament be extended to the Islands, by Order in Council, after local consultation. Their citizens hold British passports, which bear the words 'British Islands', as opposed to 'United Kingdom'. Under the Interpretation Act 1978, they are deemed to be part of the British Islands, not to be confused with the British Isles, of which they are also historically considered a part.

The inhabited islands of the Channel Isles are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, (the main islands) Jethou, Brecqhou (Brechou) and Lihou. All of these except Jersey are in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. (There is another small inhabited island Chausey, south of Jersey. Since it is owned by France it is very little known, even to Channel Islanders.)

The Islands were annexed to the Duchy of Normandy in 933. In 1066 the Duke William the Conqueror invaded and conquered England, becoming the English monarch. Since 1204, the loss of the rest of the monarch's lands in mainland Normandy has meant that the Channel Islands have been governed as separate possessions of the Crown.

During the Second World War they were occupied by Germany.

Victor Hugo spent many years in exile in Guernsey and wrote Les Misérables there. Guernsey is also the setting of Hugo's later novel, Les travailleurs de la mer (The Toilers of the Sea).