Queen's Royal Connections
Queen’s University Belfast is proud of the positive links it has with the Royal Family. Since our Queen’s College days right through to the 21st Century, family members have always been part of our story.
Queen's University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Greer has extended his warm wishes to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation.
“We are proud of the connections we have with the Royal Family. We have been honoured to welcome members of the household to Queen’s University Belfast, on a number of occasions.
Previously, we hosted His Majesty as the Prince of Wales and look forward to welcoming him back as King Charles III, alongside her Majesty Queen Camilla. It will be the first coronation in 70 years and a very special and memorable day.
On behalf of the community at Queen’s, we wish them a long and happy and prosperous reign.”
In advance of the King’s Coronation, we’ve taken a look back at some of the links we’re proud to have with the Royal Family. We have hosted His Royal Highness as a Prince and look forward to welcoming him back to Queen’s University in his role as King Charles III.
Queen’s Royal Visits
Here’s a quick snapshot of the warm relationship Queen’s has with the Royal Family
Whilst Queen’s was first opened in 1845 as Queen’s College alongside Colleges in Cork and Galway and named in honour of Queen Victoria, it wasn’t until 1908 that Queen’s University was awarded the Royal Charter by King Edward VII.
In 1924, the Queen Mother was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws. Nearly half a century after the Royal Charter, in 1953, HRH Queen Elizabeth II visited the university for the first time. The Queen Mother was to visit a few years later in 1962 to open the new Physics building, the Ashby.
In 2002, the then Prince Charles reopened the Great Hall following its refurbishment.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came to Belfast again in 2008 to unveil the Centenary Stone at Queen’s marking 100 years since the original College opened.
King Charles once again came to Queen’s in 2016 to see the world leading research taking place in ECIT before unveiling a plaque to officially launch the Global Research Institute. Watch a short clip of his visit here.
In 2020, King Charles awarded Queen’s with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – this was the 7th time the university received this prestigious award.
That same year, King Charles paid tribute to Queen’s University in an online address honouring the 175 year anniversary, stating:
“My family has long enjoyed a warm relationship with your remarkable university every since my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother established those early Colleges.”