King and Queen grant goat rare royal title as they finish Channel Islands visit

A breed of goat was given a rare royal title during the King and Queen’s visit to Guernsey on Tuesday.

Charles and Camilla granted the Golden Guernsey breed the special title of Royal Golden Guernsey Goat, conferring the award on eight-year-old Summerville Tamsin at an event in the gardens at Les Cotils.

It is the first time in recent history that the protected title has been granted to a livestock breed, and will apply to all Golden Guernseys on the island and elsewhere in the world.

Royal titles are granted sparingly, on the advice of the Cabinet Office and with strict standards applied.

The couple met Tamsin, an eight-year-old Golden Guernsey, and her owner Rebecca Martin.

The ceremony saw Charles and Camilla pet the goat as they spoke with both Rebecca and her nine-year-old son Joe Corr, who helps look after the family’s herd of 12 animals.

The King complimented Tamsin’s pale blond colour.

Speaking after their meeting, Rebecca told the PA news agency: “Everyone was saying ‘it’s so prestigious’, but I just love my goats.

“Hopefully this will raise awareness for the breed.”

Golden Guernseys are a rare breed, considered “at risk” on the Rare Breeds Watchlist.

They are considered a friendly, docile breed with pale blond to dark gold colouring, and they produce a yield of good-quality milk.

Charles and Camilla, who were in Jersey on Monday, travelled to Guernsey in their first visit to the two bailiwicks, which are Crown Dependencies off the north-west coast of France, since the King acceded to the throne.

A 21-gun salute from the Castle Cornet marked their arrival on the St Peter Port seafront, where Charles presided over a short special sitting of the States of Deliberation, Guernsey’s parliament.

Islanders packed the roads for the royal couple’s visit, applauding and cheering as the pair greeted their hosts. One woman was seen to kiss the King as he spoke with the crowd.

Charles and Camilla then visited the Crown Pier to learn about the island’s heritage and traditions, biodiversity initiatives, local food, and work to promote the language of Guernesiais – also known as Guernsey French.

Here they also attended a tea party which featured veterans and family of the late Peter Voute, a Royal Navy Guernseyman who taught the King how to fly helicopters.

The couple then separated as Camilla visited Hauteville House, the former residence of Les Miserables author Victor Hugo during his exile.

The couple completed their Channel Islands visit in the gardens of Les Cotils, where they granted the royal title to Tamsin and met the President of the States of Alderney William Tate and his wife Gabrielle Tate, and the Seigneur of Sark Major Christopher Beaumont and his wife Sarah Beaumont.

The King appeared emotional as a student from St Anne’s School recited a poem entitled Alderney’s Momentous Question, about the Homecoming.

The event then finished with a group of children from Sark School singing Happy Birthday for the Queen in Sercquiais.

Camilla, who will celebrate her 77th birthday on Wednesday, was given a birthday card made by pupils from the primary school.