When the Assembly met last on Friday at short notice to mourn with great sorrow the passing of our late sovereign Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and pay tribute to her, I spoke of the affection and loyalty she commanded, quite rightly, over her subjects. We have all been shaken by her demise as the head and heart of her family and of the greater family of Commonwealth nations. Since I spoke, there have been a large number of tributes paid to the late Queen, not least those that you will have passed on the steps outside of this court. In a few moments we will proclaim in the Royal Square the accession of His Majesty King Charles III and it is only fitting on this most historic of occasions that we should bear in our hearts and minds our own memories of our late Queen’s commitment to service and the sacrifices she made in serving first her many people. On her 21st birthday she spoke of one of the mottos of her house, which being translated means: “I serve”. She, on that day, dedicated herself to the service of the people, then her father’s peoples which became her peoples, and at that dedication asked peoples to support her in dedicating themselves to all that is best in our way of life. I will now read the proclamation to the Assembly.

1.2 Proclamation of His Majesty The King Charles III

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II of Blessed and Glorious memory, by whose decease the crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George. We, the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, officers of the Crown, Dean of Jersey, Jurats, Members of the States Assembly, and the people of Jersey gathered here today in accordance with the law of Jersey, therefore do now hereby publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Charles III, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of his other realms and territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection; beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless His Majesty, our Duke, with long and happy years to reign over us. God save the King.

PUBLIC BUSINESS

2. Draft Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Act 202- (P.91/2022)

The Bailiff:

That concludes the proclamation and we now move on to matters of public business. The first item of public business is the Draft Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Act, and I ask the Greffier to read the Act.

The Greffier of the States:

Draft Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Act 202-. The States make this Act under Article 2 of the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951.

2.1 Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter (The Chief Minister):

As we proclaim His Majesty the King in this Assembly before the Royal Mace, and shortly in our Royal Square before the public, so too we enter a new Carolean era. I have written to the King expressing my sincerest good wishes on His Majesty’s ascent to the throne on behalf of the Government of Jersey. Throughout a steadfast devotion of service I am certain that His Majesty will maintain and strengthen our historic and precious relationship with the Crown and I have no doubt that throughout the King’s reign he will witness, as did his late mother, Her Majesty, the ongoing loyalty, affection and warmth of our Bailiwick to the Crown. His Majesty will know the historic significance of what is to be proclaimed sovereign in our Royal Square. Jersey was the first place in the British Isles to declare his forebear, Charles II, as King and that makes today an especially poignant and special occasion. We shall maintain our loyalty to the Crown and His Majesty and his reign and beyond. We have the honour to remain His Majesty’s most humble and obedient servants. Before we move to attend the public procession in the Royal Square, I ask that Members approve this Act to provide for a public holiday on Monday, 19th September, the date of Her Late Majesty’s funeral. Following approval by King Charles III before the Ascension Council yesterday that Her Late Majesty’s funeral would be a public holiday across the United Kingdom it is only fitting that we emulate those arrangements and provide for such a holiday here in Jersey. Islanders should be given the opportunity to watch the funeral and to mark the day as they feel appropriate, as we continue to observe a period of mourning. I commend this proposition to the Assembly.

The Bailiff:

Is the proposition seconded? [Seconded] Does any Member wish to speak on the proposition? All those in favour of adopting the proposition kindly show.

Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade:

Could I ask for the appel please?

The Bailiff:

The appel is called for. The vote is on the adoption of the proposition for a public holiday on the 19th on the occasion of the funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Those who are in favour of that will vote pour. I ask the Greffier to open the voting and Members to vote in the normal way. If Members have had the opportunity of casting their vote I ask the Greffier to close the voting. The proposition has been adopted: 44 votes pour, no votes contre, no abstentions.

POUR: 44	CONTRE: 0	ABSTAIN: 0
Connétable of St. Helier
Connétable of St. Lawrence
Connétable of St. Brelade
Connétable of Trinity
Connétable of St. Peter
Connétable of St. Martin
Connétable of St. John
Connétable of St. Clement
Connétable of Grouville
Connétable of St. Ouen
Connétable of St. Mary
Connétable of St. Saviour
Deputy G.P. Southern
Deputy C.F. Labey
Deputy M. Tadier
Deputy S.G. Luce
Deputy L.M.C. Doublet
Deputy K.F. Morel
Deputy S.M. Ahier
Deputy I. Gardiner
Deputy I.J. Gorst
Deputy L.J Farnham
Deputy K.L. Moore
Deputy S.Y. Mézec
Deputy P.M. Bailhache
Deputy T.A. Coles
Deputy B.B.S.V.M. Porée
Deputy D.J. Warr
Deputy H.M. Miles
Deputy M.R. Scott
Deputy J. Renouf
Deputy C.D. Curtis
Deputy L.V. Feltham
Deputy R.E. Binet
Deputy H.L. Jeune
Deputy A. Howell
Deputy T.J.A. Binet
Deputy M.R. Ferey
Deputy R.S. Kovacs
Deputy A.F. Curtis
Deputy B. Ward
Deputy K.M. Wilson
Deputy L.K.F Stephenson
Deputy M.B. Andrews

COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER

The Bailiff:

3.1 Message sent to King Charles III

Before moving to the adjournment, I had forgotten to mention in my few words that we have sent a message to His Majesty King Charles III, and it is sent in the following terms: “The King’s most Excellent Majesty. May it please your Majesty, the Bailiff, the States and the people of Jersey, as your faithful subjects, express their deepest collective sorrow which the death of their beloved Queen has caused throughout this Island where her memory will remain dear to the heart of our community, which is an unshaken tradition of loyalty and devotion to its sovereign steeped in history since their Norman Duke ascended the throne of England more than 800 years ago. The States of Jersey and the people of this Island humbly offer the assurance of their abiding and committed loyalty of the highest order to the Crown and pray that your Majesty may be blessed and preserved to long reign over these realms. Very well, that concludes the business.

Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier Central:

If I may, I am sorry to disturb you and the proceedings. But I have actually moved sideways. I think my vote may not be registered and I have used the wrong button.

The Bailiff:

Thank you very much, Deputy Southern. We will make an adjustment and the vote will be recorded as pour presumably.

Deputy G.P. Southern:

Yes, Sir. For once.

The Bailiff:

Very well. The Assembly stands adjourned until Tuesday morning, the 20th of this month.

[12:13]