Following the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the University of Reading has reflected on the times she visited.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the university on three occasions during her reign.

On the first occasion, she opened the Faculty of Letters Building at Whiteknights, which is  now known as the Edith Morley Building.

The visit occurred five years into her reign.

At that time, she was accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who served as Honorary President of Reading University Students’ Union, from 1957-58, and became honorary life member.

The second visit occurred in 1992, when she was invited to The Museum of English Rural Life as part of the university’s centenary, or hundredth anniversary celebrations.

Her final visit occurred in 2012, on the invite of the university’s Henley Business School for a ‘summer garden party’ to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

In that visit, a ‘river pageant’ was held marking the role and impact of the River Thames on the Thames Valley region for more than 1,000 years.

Over 30 boats including a Viking boat crewed by the University of Reading rowers featured in the pageant showcasing all aspects of the River, which took place at the university’s ‘Greenlands’ campus in Henley.

That year, she also opened the much upgraded train station in Reading.

Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022.