HM The King receives Berkshire’s Loyal Address

The University of Reading formed part of a delegation of Berkshire institutions as the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire delivered a Loyal Address to HM The King.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, represented the University as James Puxley, Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, delivered the address to HM The King at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 9 March, 2023.

Professor Yaqoob was part of a delegation of representatives from across the county, which as one of the UK’s Privileged Bodies, is invited to present an Address to The King on the occasion of His Majesty’s Accession.

Professor Yaqoob said: “The University is honoured to be so closely connected with His Majesty the King. As Sovereign, he follows Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the role as Visitor of the University. We are also lucky that the county of Berkshire with its Royal status is also a Privileged Body, giving the University an additional link.

“His Majesty’s steadfast support for education and for excellence in the arts and sciences, especially in environmental and agricultural issues, has been longstanding. I was honoured to represent the University and show our formal support for HM The King at such a meaningful event.”

Privileged Bodies of the United Kingdom are institutions and corporations which enjoy the historic right to present an Address to the Monarch in person. This right is exercised on significant occasions in the life of the Monarch. A senior representative of each body delivers a Loyal Address and, after each has been read, the Monarch responds and receives a copy of each.

The last time Loyal Addresses were delivered to the Monarch was in 2012 to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Alongside Professor Yaqoob, the Berkshire representatives included the Mayors and Chairman of the Unitary Authorities in the county, the County Archivist, the Bishop of Reading, and the Chair of the Trustees from the Berkshire Community Foundation.