GCU and Queen Elizabeth ll: A connection that spanned 78 years
Glasgow Caledonian University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE met the Princess Royal when she visited Glasgow City Chambers today.
Professor Gillies and a small number of other GCU representatives were among representatives of organisations of which Her Majesty The Queen had a connection as Patron. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence, visited the city in acknowledgement of these close relationships before meeting members of the public and signing the Book of Condolence.
GCU’s special connection to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stretches back to 1944, when the young HRH Princess Elizabeth became Patroness of one of the University’s founding institutions, the Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science.
It was the first time she had accepted such an office in Scotland and it was the first time in its 70-year history that the College had received such an honour by a member of the reigning Royal Family.
In August 1944, the Governors of the College sent a letter to Buckingham Palace with a request for the Princess to become a patron.
The letter stated: “It is felt that if Her Royal Highness’ name were to be added as the head of the list of Patronesses of the College it would have a direct influence in encouraging girls to undertake this training.”
Within a month, the College received a reply confirming that the request had been accepted and so began the association that was to last the lifetime of the College and be part of GCU’s unique heritage.
Diploma Day
The following year, there was much excitement when the Princess accepted an invitation to present certificates at the College’s Diploma Day in September 1945, the first held since the onset of World War II.
The Princess congratulated our students and remarked on the progress the College had made in her Diploma Day speech.
Her Royal Highness said: “First of all, I wish to say how pleased I am to be here today on this, my first visit to your College to present diplomas and certificates. I should like to congratulate all successful students most heartily.
“It is wonderful to see how this College has grown since its inception 70 years ago. Your small foundation with its few hundred students has become a splendid institution fitted with the most modern equipment and from which several thousand students have graduated."
The young HRH Princess Elizabeth presents certificates at the College's Diploma Day in September 1945.
Celebrating the Queen’s marriage
Over the years that followed, many messages of good wishes were sent from the College to the Princess. On her marriage to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in November 1947, the students made a gift of an antique Cockpen chair. In return, Buckingham Palace sent wedding cake to the College (main image), which was distributed to students.
On her accession to the throne in 1952, the Princess’ patronage of the College automatically ceased. However, as Queen Elizabeth II, she renewed it, an honour which the College Governors said indicated her ‘continued interest in and appreciation of the work of the College’.
Almost 23 years after her first visit, the Queen returned to the College in July 1968 to formally open Gibson Hall, the new student residence. Accompanied by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, they inspected the premises and talked with staff and students attending a summer course before having tea with the College Principal and Governors.
Queen Elizabeth ll returns to the College in July 1968 to formally open Gibson Hall, the new student residence.
Queen’s College
It was during its centenary year in 1975 that the College received its royal title. With such a close royal association throughout its history, ‘The Queen’s College, Glasgow’, was the obvious choice for the new name and an application was made to Willie Ross, Secretary of State for Scotland. In March of that year, the request was approved and the Queen agreed for her title to be used.
At the final awards ceremony of the Queen’s College in October 1992, a special message of loyal greetings to The Queen was distributed, signalling the close affinity the College continued to feel with the monarch.