There are five major channel islands - Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm - in addition to numerous rocks and islets. .
As a Crown Colony, the Channel Islands are not affected by British taxes or any Act of Parliament that does not specifically mention them.
Originally part of the Duchy of Normandy, the Channel Islands became attached to the English crown when William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, conquered England. However, when England lost all the rest of her French possessions, her large navy enabled her to keep the Channel Islands. To this day, they still toast Queen Elizabeth II as "The queen, our Duke!"
During World War II, the Channel Islands were the only British soil to be occupied by the Nazis. Under the occupation, famine swept the islands; the Red Cross had to ship in much food. They were not liberated until the end of the war, because the Allies did not want to divert forces from more strategic positions.