King Charles charmed the parliamentarians of the Isle of Man this week, delivering part of his address in the ancient Manx language and drawing warm laughter when he confessed he hoped he had not butchered the words. July 14, 2026 marked the monarch’s first official visit to the island since ascending the throne, arriving in his capacity as Lord of Mann, the title the sovereign holds on this self-governing crown dependency.
The address came during a special sitting of Tynwald, the island’s parliament and one of the world’s oldest continuous legislatures. Charles told the assembled members that 2026 is Manx Language Year — Blein ny Gaelgey — before adding, to the amusement of the chamber, that he very much hoped he had not succeeded at massacring the wonderful celebration of the language. The Manx tongue, which has enjoyed a revival in recent years, drew clear appreciation from his hosts when the king attempted to speak it.
A Nod to Royal History
Charles used the occasion to reflect on the enduring bond between the Crown and the island. He praised Tynwald’s distinction as the world’s oldest parliament in continuous operation, describing it as a mark of both institutional strength and lasting partnership with the Manx people. He also reached back nearly two centuries to recall the first royal visit to the island, made by his ancestor Prince Albert in September 1847, when the prince consort traveled by boat from the royal yacht Victoria and Albert to come ashore at Ramsey.
The Isle of Man occupies an unusual constitutional position. As a crown dependency, it governs itself with its own parliament, government, civil service and judiciary, and raises its own revenue through taxes. The monarch serves as its head of state, holding the title Lord of Mann while on the island. Charles last visited in April 2012, when he was Prince of Wales, accompanied by Queen Camilla, his wife, then holding the title Duchess of Cornwall, for celebrations honoring the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
After the formalities inside Tynwald, the king stepped outside to greet the crowds, shaking hands and exchanging a few words with well-wishers. Among them was Fabienne Favray, originally from France but a resident of the island for 12 years. When she offered a few words in her native language, Charles switched effortlessly from English to French, continuing the conversation in her mother tongue.
150 Years on Douglas Promenade
From the parliament, Charles traveled to Douglas Promenade, one of the capital’s signature waterfront landmarks. There he visited the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, where staff greeted him before he inspected the historic carriages and the shire horses that pull them. The king unveiled a plaque to mark the tramway’s 150th anniversary, then boarded a recently restored double-decker tram for a short journey down the promenade as crowds lined the route to wave.
He also met the team responsible for restoring the fleet and spoke with Peter Cannon, the tramway’s longest-serving member. Cannon has worked with the business for 51 years, having joined at 17. Recounting his encounter with the monarch, Cannon said he told "his nibs" that he had been there, man and boy.
Later in the day, Charles shared one of the visit’s more poignant moments with James Fenton, a 104-year-old Burma Star veteran with a distinguished military record in the 178th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, where he held the rank of bombardier. The two men had first met the previous year at the VJ Day 80th anniversary in London, and they came together again at Port Soderick Beach, where the Heroes On The Water Isle of Man charity provides kayak angling experiences for injured veterans and uniformed services personnel. The pair joked about growing older, with the king remarking that getting older is terrible because bits keep dropping off. Charles finished his day at a garden party at Government House.
A Monarch at Ease in Other Tongues
The linguistic flourishes on the Isle of Man were characteristic of a king who has made his facility with languages part of his public diplomacy. In September 2023, during a three-day trip to France with Queen Camilla, Charles delivered part of a diplomatic address to the French Senate in French, becoming the first British monarch to do so. In that speech he spoke of France and the United Kingdom as neighbors, friends, partners and allies, drawing a standing ovation from senators.
That trip, which began when the couple arrived at Paris-Orly Airport and were greeted by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, also took in the Arc de Triomphe, a welcome ceremony by the French Air Force flying team and a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles. On the Isle of Man, the stakes were gentler but the spirit was the same: a monarch willing to stumble through an unfamiliar language for the pleasure of the people he was there to honor. Judging by the laughter in the chamber, the effort landed exactly as intended.