It lost out in the contest to be named a city for the Platinum Jubilee but now Gibraltar has been told it had civic status already – thanks to another Jubilee queen.
The UK government has confirmed that Gibraltar was given city status by Queen Victoria but had fallen off the official list of recognised cities. Research in the National Archives showed that Victoria granted the status to the City of Gibraltar in 1842. It has been re-affirmed officially on August 29th 2022.
Officials on Gibraltar were unaware as they applied for city status in the contest held to mark the Platinum Jubilee. They lost out to Stanley in the Falkland Islands. However, Bluemantle Pursuivant from the College of Arms in London raised the possibility that Gibraltar didn’t need to be in the contest at all as Victoria had already granted it civic status.
It’s believed the manner of the grant is the reason that Gibraltar hasn’t been recognised officially as a city. It was given the status through Diocesan Letters Patent rather than the usual City Status Letters Patent.
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory which lies on the southern tip of Spain and has been British in perpetuity since 1713 following the Treaty of Utrecht. Spain disputes that but referenda among Gibraltarians have shown large majorities in favour of retaining British Overseas Territory status. It’s possible that this latest revelation will spark further diplomatic comment.
As the confirmation of the City of Gibraltar was made, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ”This official recognition re-affirms Gibraltar’s special status in the Realms of Her Majesty, and rightly signifies the pride that Gibraltarians feel for their community and their distinctive heritage.”
Eight places in the UK were made cities to mark the Platinum Jubilee with Stanley in the Falklands chosen from among the British Overseas Territories that applied. Douglas on the Isle of Man, a Crown Dependency, also won the honour.
City status has been bestowed on places around the UK for every one of The Queen’s four Jubilees.
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