Royal Visits, Part III

 

Advance planning for the invitation of the Prince and Princess of Wales to visit Queen’s University in 1991 was well underway in June 1985. Senate passed a motion stating:

that the Senate invite the Prince and Princess of Wales to accept Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Laws on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter to Queen’s University by Queen Victoria.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana signing the Royal guest book

Kingston Picture Collection
Prince Charles and Princess Diana signing the Royal guest book
V23-Vis-20

Royal guest book, 1973-1998, Page 1 Royal guest book, 1973-1998, Page 2

Queen’s University. University Secretariat fonds.
Royal guest book, 1973-1998
Location 1161.7, Box 5

Prince and Princess of Wales outside Summerhill, 28 Oct. 1991 (1)  Prince and Princess of Wales outside Summerhill, 28 Oct. 1991 (3)

Kingston Whig-Standard fonds.
Michael Milligan, photographer.
Prince and Princess of Wales outside Summerhill, 28 Oct. 1991
V128-59-28Oct1991

According to an appendix of the Senate minutes of 24 April 1991, “Over the past few years, the Sesquicentennial Planning Committee has been pursuing the possibility of a visit by members of the Royal family on the 150th Anniversary of the granting to Queen’s University of a Royal Charter. The University was informed last Friday that it was highly probable that their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, will be visiting Queen’s on October 28, 1991 to mark the sesquicentennial celebrations. It is planned to ask their Royal Highnesses to rededicate the charter received from the Prince’s direct ancestor, Queen Victoria. The Princess is expected to review the Prince of Wales’ Own Regiment.”

Alumni Review (Vol.66, No.1, Page 12)

Queen's Alumni Review
"His Royal Highness Prince Charles, LLD '91"
Vol. 66, No. 1, Page 12

Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone, 1941

Queen’s University. Alumni Affairs fonds.
Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone (behind Mackintosh), 1941
Location 3738, Box 1, File 25

This was not the first time an honorary degree had been conferred upon royalty. The Princess Royal, Alice, and her husband, the Earl of Athlone (serving as Governor General of Canada), both received their Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University in 1941.


Visits Part II Visits Part IV