Since 933 AD Channel Islanders have been loyal to the Dukes of Normandy. When Duke William of Normandy became King of England in 1066 the islanders remained loyal to him as duke not as king. In the next 140 years although they were all members of the same family, not all dukes of Normandy were kings of England.

Jersey's loyalty to the English crown began in the early years of the thirteenth century when King John lost his mainland Norman possessions but retained the Channel Islands. From this time onwards islanders found themselves in the front line of successive conflicts between England and France. Their loyalty was challenged by repeated French invasion attempts, but at times they were rewarded by the granting of rights and privileges by the English Crown who continued to occasionally use the title Duke of Normandy until the late eighteenth century.