The University of Westminster and its predecessors have experienced numerous royal encounters over the institution’s 180-year-long history. The University’s dedicated Archives team has compiled a timeline of these events for the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, the patron of the University. The Platinum Jubilee celebrates the University’s patron becoming the first British monarch to reach 70 years of service.
The University’s long tradition of royal connections dates back to December 1840 when Prince Albert visited 309 Regent Street and became patron of the newly designated Royal Polytechnic Institution. The patronage of the monarch has been held by our predecessor bodies, the Regent Street Polytechnic and the Polytechnic of Central London, with the historic links continued and strengthened in 1993 when Her Majesty The Queen graciously agreed to be the patron of the University of Westminster.
In the late 19th century, visits to the Royal Polytechnic Institution by members of the Royal family were frequent. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children visited on several occasions to watch performances of Pepper’s Ghost and view the latest scientific experiments, including the atmospheric railway and the physioscope. The Prince of Wales even descended in the diving bell in the Great Hall in 1876. Queen Victoria herself attended a private view on 10 May 1855 with several members of her family, later donating £100 to the institution.
The Royal Polytechnic celebrated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee with the issue of commemorative 3p, 6p and shilling coins, and held a service of commemoration for her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
In the 20th century, the Polytechnic continued to enjoy the support of the monarchy. On 26 May 1908, members of the Polytechnic’s athletics and gymnastic clubs put on a display in front of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at the opening of the Franco-British Stadium in White City which, three weeks later, was the venue for the 1908 London Olympics.
The Polytechnic’s building at 309 Regent Street closed for redevelopment in 1910. It was formally re-opened on 11 March 1912 with a visit by King George V, Queen Mary and the Prince of Wales. A plaque, in honour of the late King Edward VII, was unveiled in the foyer. During the visit, the Royal Family also purchased some works of art by Poly Art students. Following the visit, the King and Queen assented to be joint patrons of The Polytechnic, and patronage of the monarch has continued since then.
On 10 October 1929 Queen Mary formally opened the Great Portland Street Extension building (now 4-12 Little Titchfield Street). The new building was to be the home of the Polytechnic Women’s Institute and Her Majesty unveiled a portrait of its founder, Mrs Alice Hogg.
The Polytechnic always sent messages of congratulation to the monarch on anniversary occasions and marked King George V’s Silver Jubilee with lavish decorations displayed on the façade of 309 Regent Street.
The coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and of Queen Elizabeth II in 1937 and 1953 respectively were both celebrated with a dance in the Portland Hall and a Garden Fete held at Chiswick.
In February 1958, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, made his first visit to the Polytechnic, meeting staff and students as he toured the facilities at 309 Regent Street and Little Titchfield Street.
His Royal Highness Prince Charles made the first of several visits in 1980, later opening the Polyclinic, a ground-breaking teaching and research clinic for complementary medicines, at Marylebone Road on 14 May 1995. The Prince also visited the University’s Harrow Campus in 2004, when he encountered music artist Jay-Z who was playing at the Prince’s Trust Urban Music Festival for which rehearsals took place on campus.
Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II has visited the University of Westminster twice. She first visited in December 1995 to open the newly developed Harrow Campus at Northwick Park. Secondly, in July 2004 she unveiled the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade plaque at 309 Regent Street which had been awarded to the University.
Most recently, a group of Westminster students, alumni and staff, were invited to The Patron’s Lunch to celebrate The Queen’s 90th birthday in June 2016. The Mall outside Buckingham Palace was transformed for its largest ever street party to celebrate The Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations – including the University of Westminster, one of only 23 universities in her patronage. The Westminster team could wave and sing happy birthday to her and saw a number of senior Royal Family members.
Learn more about the heritage of the University of Westminster.
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