This year, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee – along with others across the country and around the world, we will be joining the celebrations of Her Majesty’s remarkable 70 years of service to the nation. 

Our royal connections

Her Majesty has visited the University twice in our long history – once to our Canterbury campus in 1987 to meet students and formally open new computing facilities in the Cornwallis Octagon and again in 2002 to mark the opening of our Medway campus, shared with Greenwich and Christ Church universities.

We’ve dug into our archives to find this photo of the Queen visiting in the late 1980s as we opened new computer labs – you can also find a photo of her visit on the wall of the Cornwallis Octagon!

The University itself was granted its Royal Charter on 4 January 1965, which is what gives us the power to award degrees. The Charter outlines is signed by Queen Elizabeth II and outlines both our objectives as a University – for the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, sciences and learning, and the provision of liberal, professional and technological education.

Events and Celebrations

Activities will be taking place across Kent and Medway to mark the Platinum Jubilee weekend, alongside nationwide celebrations. Jubilee beacons will be lit across the UK ahead of a Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday 4 June and The Big Jubilee Lunch at communities around the country on Sunday 5.

To kickstart the extended bank holiday weekend, we have rounded up the events and celebrations taking place throughout Kent for those that want to head down and join in with special Jubilee moments across the county

• Lighting of Jubilee Beacons will take place at venues across the county as the sun sets on Thursday 2 June – including Canterbury, Whitstable, Chatham, Margate and Dover
• Platinum Jubilee events will be taking place in a number of locations, with fun for all the family at special activity at Mote Park, Hever Castle and Leeds Castle
• Rochester Castle will host Medway’s Platinum Jubilee Picnic Site, with a live-stream of the events taking place in the capital across the weekend. The Platinum Jubilee Medway River Pageant will also make its way to a riverside street party in Chatham on the Saturday
• Lectures and musical tributes will also take place at Canterbury Cathedral – find out more about Jubilee Celebrations in Kent

We hope you have a lovely bank holiday and get to celebrate this remarkable achievement!

At at a time when a professional footballer coming out as gay is still seen by some as controversial, it is more important than ever for colleagues, students, and the wider community to be able to see examples of the lived experience of LGBT+ Pride.

This year, Canterbury Pride takes place on Saturday 11 June and the University LGBT+ Staff Network will be organising a group to march through the city to show that Kent is an inclusive and welcoming place for all LGBT+ people.

The marching group and attendance at Canterbury Pride are not only open to Network Members, but to all members of our community, whether you identify as LGBT+ yourself or are an ally. Book the date in your diary and watch this space for more information about how to join the parade nearer the time.

We are also asking staff and students to take part in a campaign about what your rainbow lanyard means to you. If you’d like to get involved, please email communications@kent.ac.uk.