The University of Birmingham received it Royal Charter from Queen Victoria on 31 May 1900. It was the first redbrick university to be awarded a Royal Charter and the University of Birmingham has a longstanding association with the Royal Family with King Edward VII officially opening the Aston Webb building in 1909 and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, laying the first foundation for the medical school some thirty years later.
It was Queen Elizabeth II who celebrated the University centenary with her visit in May 2000 when the plaque was unveiled.
‘It was a great experience to be studying at the University of Birmingham during the Royal Charter centenary celebrations in 2000. I remember daffodils and tulips popping up in Chancellor’s Court ahead of the ‘big day’, everyone was excited about the Queen’s visit and even the sun put in an appearance.
‘The buzz that her visit generated on campus was infectious and of course the very memorable ‘Club 100’ night that followed was definitely a night to remember, although I’m not sure I remember seeing the Queen there,’ remembers Bryoney Johnson (BA English and American Studies, 2001)."
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