Queen Elizabeth II: A Southampton Tribute

In 1966 the Queen visited the crowd-filled streets of Southampton to open the new ocean terminal and then she made a visit to the University of Southampton.

Another busy visit was in 1974 when the Queen came to open the South Academic Block at Southampton General Hospital. This was the first time that Southampton hospital had been visited by a reigning monarch. Before she opened the block, she walked around the Civic Centre forecourt greeting and talking to locals, which was undoubtedly the event that touched locals the most.

Southampton celebrated her reign during the Platinum Jubilee, which took place earlier this year, with festivals, street parties, and local bands all coming together for the Queens 70 years on the throne. This made her the second longest reigning monarch in world history, 2 years behind King Louis XIV of France.

On the 8th of September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. During her long 70-year reign, she touched the hearts of people all over the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. The Queen appointed 15 Prime Ministers and met 13 U.S. Presidents. Her constant and unwavering presence provided a backbone that has allowed the United Kingdom to successfully weather the events of the late 20th Century, such as the Cold War and the pandemic. Closer to home she has provided direct comfort to many British Citizens, a notable example being when she visited the Welsh village of Aberfan in 1966 after a disastrous landslide killed 116 children and 28 adults. Locally the Queen has also had a positive effect on Southampton. In 1952, the same year as her coronation, she granted the University of Southampton a Royal Charter. From its beginnings as the Hartley institute in 1862, the University of Southampton became its own independent university, which allowed it to award degrees of its own, instead of being a branch of the University of London. The University of Southampton was the first university to receive a charter in Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

On the 10th of September 2022, the city of Southampton raised its flags at 11 am to coincide with the proclamation of King Charles III, and then on Sunday 11th, the city’s proclamation of King Charles III took place at 2 pm. The floral tributes left for the Queen at the forecourt of the Civic Centre will be turned into compost to help plant trees in memory of the Queen.

Hartley Library currently has a display of books relating to the Queen and has a book of condolence that is available to sign which gives you the chance to write your own personal messages about the Queen. If you wish to see the display, it is located in the Hartley Library lobby.

Southampton, with the rest of the world, mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her death brings about a new era for the United Kingdom. An era which, to the sadness of many, she will not be around to help us through.