The University of Westminster is pleased to announce that following a large review of Royal Patronages, King Charles III will become the University’s Royal Patron continuing a long history of royal connections.
Previously, Queen Elizabeth II was the University’s patron from 1993 until her death in September 2022.
Adding to numerous royal encounters over the University’s 180-year-long history, King Charles III, formerly His Royal Highness Prince Charles, has visited all of the University’s campuses on several occasions. First in June 1980 when he visited Marylebone Campus in his role as President of the CNAA, the national degree-awarding authority for the UK at that time, to take part in a one-day conference on Engineering degree courses.
In 1993 he attended the opening of the Centre for Community Care and Public Health at 33 Queen Anne’s Street, and in 1996 he visited the Regent Campus to attend the professorial lecture of Professor Patrick Pietroni titled A Primary Care-led NHS: Trick or Treat?
He later opened the Polyclinic, a ground-breaking teaching and research clinic for complementary medicines, at the University’s Cavendish Campus in 1999. During the visit he described the University as “revolutionary”.
Photo: King Charles III at the opening of the Polyclinic in 1999
The Polyclinic remains open to this day, providing low-cost access for the general public to treatments in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Western herbal medicine.
King Charles III also visited the University’s Harrow Campus in 2004, as part of the Urban Sound Live programme which was hosted by the University and offered by the Prince’s Trust. Whilst at the Harrow Campus, he encountered musician Jay-Z, who was headlining the Prince’s Trust’s Urban Music Festival.
Speaking about the news, Professor Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University, said: “We are so happy and pleased that His Majesty has selected our university for patronage. His longstanding connections with us, especially in the areas of creating healthier societies and sustainable development, fit so closely with our priorities today. We very much look forward to engaging with His Majesty as our Patron to further our work in these areas and in others. His patronage is a very welcome endorsement of who we are, what we stand for and what we do together to help make the world a better place.”
Visit the University’s digital exhibition on King Charles III.
Photo: King Charles III met musician Jay-Z at the Harrow Campus in 2004. Photo by Heidi E Reuter, Photojournalism MA student
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