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Alderney is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is 5 km long and 2.4 km wide, with a population of slightly more than 2,000 people.
The Crown Dependencies (French: Dépendances de la Couronne; Manx: Croghaneyn-crooin) are three island territories in the British Islands that are self-governing possessions of the British Crown: the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man. They are not part of the United Kingdom (UK) nor are they British Overseas Territories. Internationally, the dependencies are considered "territories for which the United Kingdom is responsible", rather than sovereign states. As a result, they are not member states of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Each island has had a rather independent, though often parallel, political development from the UK and are akin to "miniature states with wide powers of self-government". As the Crown Dependencies are not sovereign states, the power to pass legislation affecting the islands ultimately rests with the Queen-in-Council (though this power is rarely exercised without the consent of the dependencies, and the right to do so is disputed). However, they each have their own legislative assembly, with the power to legislate on many local matters with the assent of the Crown (Privy Council, or in the case of the Isle of Man in certain circumstances the lieutenant-governor).
Queen Elizabeth II was Head of State of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, of which Alderney is part - and not of Alderney directly. However, her effigy and legend are displayed on the Alderney Pound coinage which the island has been issuing since 1989 (mostly commemorative). |
