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The central role of Queen’s University in higher education was recognised today when Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh joined a celebration to mark the University’s contribution to society over the past 100 years.

The Royal couple were joined by President of Ireland Mary McAleese, First Minister The Reverend Ian Paisley and Secretary of State Shaun Woodward at an event which marked the singular contribution Queen’s University has made to education and to Northern Ireland since it received its Royal Charter in 1908.

Staff, students and alumni from the University were joined by partners from higher education, Government, business, and the professions together with benefactors at a Centenary Reception.

Queen’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson, said the University family was honoured that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh had marked the Centenary with a visit.

“This is an important year for Queen’s and the region we serve. The University has played a critical role in the educational, cultural, social and economic development of Northern Ireland over the past century. Today’s visit is tangible recognition of that contribution.

“We welcome Her Majesty today, not just as an honoured guest, but as part of our community. The Queen’s official role as the University’s Visitor is an important part of our system of governance.

“This visit marks another red-letter day for Queen’s as it celebrates 100 years as one of the United Kingdom’s leading universities.”

Queen’s position within the sector was underlined by the presence of Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group - the UK’s 20 leading international research-driven universities. Queen’s became a member in 2006. Other guests included the former Archbishops of Armagh Lord Eames and Cardinal Daly, both of whom are alumni of Queen’s.

After being welcomed to the University, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh unveiled a stone engraved with a stanza written by Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney to mark the University’s Centenary year. The Queen was also presented with a signed limited edition of The Blackbird’s Nest – a critically acclaimed collection of poems written by staff and students over the past 100 years.

At a reception to mark the University’s Centenary, The Queen was accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor and Student President John Roger, and The Duke of Edinburgh by Registrar and Chief Operating Officer James O’Kane and Deputy Student President Sarah McCaffrey.

They talked to staff, students and key partners involved in areas which represented ‘spires of excellence’ within the University: the Student Experience, the Professions, Knowledge Transfer, Medicine, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Arts and Culture. The Royal couple also met members of the Queen’s University Foundation Board who spearheaded the successful £130 million Campaign for Queen’s.

Speaking on behalf of the Student body, John Roger said: “This is a great day for Queen’s. The Student Representative Council felt that the Centenary should be marked by a Royal visit, and today’s celebration is the fulfilment of that wish. It is a fitting tribute to a fine University.”

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh then visited the Naughton Gallery, where they saw a new exhibition featuring Northern Irish landscapes and the artwork for a new set of stamps issued by the Royal Mail to mark St Patrick’s Day. They were welcomed to the Gallery by Curator Shan McAnena and its benefactors Drs Martin and Carmel Naughton.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh joined The President of Ireland, First Minister, Secretary of State and other guests at a luncheon to mark the University’s Centenary.

Before her arrival at the University, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh met President McAleese and Dr Martin McAleese for a private meeting at The Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge.

Notes for editors:

Queen’s received its Royal Charter from King Edward VII in 1908. The Charter gave it University status in its own right. The institution was founded by Queen Victoria in 1845 as one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland (the others being at Cork and Galway). The University currently operates under a charter signed by the Queen in 1982.

Today, the University is a member of the Russell Group of the UK’s 20 leading research-intensive universities and an international centre of academic excellence rooted at the heart of Northern Ireland.

This is the Queen’s third visit to the University. She previously visited in Coronation year, 1953, and in 1966.

The Queen has an official role as the University’s Visitor. The Charter gives the Visitor the right “to direct an inspection of the University, its buildings, laboratories and general equipment, and also of the examinations, teaching and other work done by the University”.

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, is a former student of Queen’s, and was Director of its Institute for Professional Legal Studies and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor when she stood for the Presidency. Other alumni include the two immediate past Anglican and Catholic Primates of All-Ireland, Lord Eames and Cardinal Daly.

The Centenary Stanza, written by Dr Seamus Heaney, reads:

Still red brickwork
Remains our bulwark:
Here exercise
Of mind has stood
To us, for us
These hundred years,
And will, for good.

The Blackbird’s Nest, an anthology of Queen’s poets, was published by Blackstaff Press in 2006. Edited by Frank Ormsby with a foreword by Seamus Heaney and an afterword by Ciaran Carson, the collection includes works by poets including John Hewitt, Philip Larkin, Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Medbh McGuckian and Sinead Morrissey. The edition presented to the Queen was signed by Dr Heaney, Frank Ormsby and Ciaran Carson and is one of a limited edition of 250. The Queen received No.5.

Media enquiries to Kevin Mulhern, Head of Communications, 07813 015 431, or Anne Langford, Press and PR Unit, 07815 871 997.