Royal visit

Accompanied by the University’s Chancellor, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty spent the morning visiting the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, off Grange Road, and the Faculty of English at the Sidgwick site, speaking to students, staff and academics. The Duke also visited the Faculty of Classics.

After a lunch at Queens’ College, where she unveiled a plaque to mark her first visit to the college alongside one commemorating the visit of the late Queen Mother in 1998, she visited the Fitzwilliam Museum. She was shown pages from the newly acquired Macclesfield Psalter and saw the new £12 million courtyard development. Meanwhile the Duke visited the nearby Disability Resource Centre which provides assistance and advice to university students with disabilities.

A highlight for many was the walkabout in Trumpington Street when many hundreds of local people had the chance to meet the Royal couple.

The Royal Party then concluded the day at Christ’s College, joining a garden party to celebrate the college’s quincentenary (1505 – 2005).

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard said: “ It was a profound honour for the University to welcome Her Majesty, and a particular pleasure that she was accompanied by our Chancellor, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The visit was a tribute to the superb work of our Departments and Colleges.”