King Charles demonstrated his linguistic abilities during his inaugural visit to the Isle of Man as monarch, but humorously expressed hope that he was not 'massacring' the Manx language. He spoke the ancient language, which has seen a revival in recent years, during a special sitting of the island's parliament, Tynwald, and outside the building conversed in French with a native speaker among the crowds.
Royal Visit Highlights
During his day on the island, where he holds the title Lord of Mann, the King rode a horse-drawn tram along the promenade in the capital Douglas and attended a garden party. He told members of the island's parliament: 'I am aware that this year is Manx Language Year – Blein ny Gaelgey (Year of the Manx Language).' The chamber laughed when he added: 'So I very much hope I have not succeeded at this point in massacring this wonderful celebration of your language…!'
Tynwald: A Historic Parliament
Charles visited Tynwald, one of the oldest continuous legislatures in the world, for a formal welcome to the self-governing crown dependency. The popular holiday destination, famed for the Isle of Man TT motorbike event, has its own parliament, government, civil service, judiciary, and raises its own revenue through taxes. Charles remarked: 'As the world's oldest parliament in continuous operation, Tynwald holds a remarkable distinction. This longevity speaks not only to the strength of your institutions, but also of the enduring partnership between the Crown and the people of this Island.' He noted that the first royal visit was by Prince Albert in 1847.
Engaging with the Public
After the formal welcome, Charles met members of the public outside the parliament building, shaking hands and exchanging words with well-wishers. He spoke to Fabienne Favray, originally from France but living on the island for 12 years, switching from English to French when she spoke a few words in her native tongue. On Douglas's seafront, the King celebrated the 150th anniversary of the city's horse-drawn tram service by traveling partway down the promenade on a recently restored double-decker tram, flanked by crowds of well-wishers. Before boarding, he chatted with the team responsible for restoring the tram fleet and staff, including longest-serving member Peter Cannon, 68, who has been with the business for 51 years. Cannon said: 'I told his nibs I've been here, man and boy.'
