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Our Chancellor is Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who has been in post since 1981

Our Chancellor is Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who has been in post since 1981 and Her Majesty The Queen previously held the position of ‘Visitor’ of The University, as well as two honorary degrees in Music and Law.

Our Chancellor is Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who has been in post since 1981 and Her Majesty The Queen previously held the position of ‘Visitor’ of The University, as well as two honorary degrees in Music and Law.

The Queen usually delegated her Visitor functions to the Lord President of the Council (a position currently held by The Right Honourable Penny Mordaunt MP). One of the most important functions of the Visitor used to be within academic institutions, where the Visitor had to determine disputes arising between the institution and its members. However, in 2004 the Higher Education Act transferred the jurisdiction of Visitors over the grievances of students in English and Welsh universities to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II great uncle was the Earl of Athlone, who was our Chancellor between 1932-1955. The association between the Royal family and the position of Chancellor has subsequently continued with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother holding the position from 1955-1981, and subsequently, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

Royal connections

Earl of Athlone, HRH Princess Elizabeth, HRH Duke of Edinburgh meeting guests 1951
Earl of Athlone, HRH Princess Elizabeth, HRH Duke of Edinburgh meeting guests in the Chancellor's Hal at Senate House (December 1951).

Our Chancellor

Her role involves representing the University at a wide range of engagements each year. The Princess Royal has been Chancellor since 1981 and is the 10th person to hold the post since our foundation.