Sunday, November 6, 2022

Crown Dependencies

The Crown Dependencies are the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and the Bailiwick of Jersey.  The Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey make up the Channel Islands.  

Like the UK, sovereignty over the Crown Dependencies are vested in the Crown and Charles III is now sovereign following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.  

Each of them have wide powers of self-government but they aren't independent countries, and they aren't British Overseas Territories either.  The United Kingdom is responsible for them in terms of defence and foreign relations, and each dependency pays an annual fee to the UK for this.

They aren't members of the Commonwealth of Nations.  However, they do get to send their own athletes every four years to the Commonwealth Games. 

As these three island territories are not part of the UK, Brexit didn't impact them because they were never a part of the EU.  

The Crown Dependencies were part of the EU customs territory there they participated in the free movement of goods but they did not have the free movement of people, services or capital.  While they were still European citizens they never took part in the European Parliament.  

They were not part of the Schengen area but they are a part of the Common Travel Agreement with the UK and Ireland.  After Brexit, the passports changed from the Red EU colour to the new British Blue.

In ten days I'm headed to Saint Helier, the capital of Jersey, which will be my first visit to the Channel Islands.

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