Northern Ireland Office

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh were guests of honour today at The Queen’s University of Belfast where they attended a Centenary Reception and Luncheon held to celebrate its international reputation for academic excellence and its unparalleled role in the political, economic, social and cultural development of Northern Ireland.

Prior to arriving at the University, Her Majesty was greeted by Professor Peter Gregson, the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor in his residence and went on to meet, President of Ireland, and former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen’s, Mary McAleese.

Arriving at the university which was founded by Queen Victoria in 1845, Her Majesty was greeted by The Lady Carswell, The Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, and was accompanied during the engagement by Professor Peter Gregson.

Before joining the reception Her Majesty accepted an invitation to unveil a Centenary Stone in the Black and White Hall of the Lanyon Building to mark the granting of the Royal Charter to The Queen’s University in 1908. The Centenary Stanza engraved on the stone was written and read at the ceremony by Seamus Heaney, a former student of the university and 1995 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Following the ceremony Her Majesty was presented with a signed limited edition of “The Blackbird’s Nest”, an anthology of Queen’s poets.

During the historic visit, Her Majesty met a number of students currently studying at Queen’s in its centenary year.

The Centenary Luncheon was attended by around 100 guests including, Former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Lord Robin Eames and Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh and Primate Emeritus of All Ireland, Cardinal Cahal Daly.

Following the Centenary Luncheon, Her Majesty had an opportunity to meet well-wishers in the Cloister and was later presented with a posy by Miss Rebecca Colquhoun, The Chancellor’s Page.

It is expected that Her Majesty will undertake further engagements later in the day.

Notes to editors

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, were accompanied by The Right Honourable, Shaun Woodward MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Mrs Camilla Woodward during the engagement.

On arrival at The Queen’s University of Belfast Her Majesty was greeted by:

The Lady Carswell OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, who presented

Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP MLA, Member of Parliament for South Belfast,

Sir Reg Empey OBE MLA, Minister Department for Employment and Learning (DEL)

Dr Aideen McGinley OBE, Permanent Secretary

President and Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson, who went on to present, inside the Black and White Hall:

President of Ireland, Mary McAleese,

Mr James O’Kane, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer

Sir David Fell, Pro-Chancellor

Mrs Rotha Johnston, Pro-Chancellor

Mr John Rogers, Students’ Union President

Ms Sarah McCaffrey, Students’ Union Deputy President