Queen Victoria was particularly popular in the city – she launched Glasgow’s water supply at Loch Katrine, coined the phrase “Second City of Empire” and opened the City Chambers in 1888.
Scottish and UK royal families have played a role in Glasgow’s story and the city for its part has marked many of the great milestones in royal history over the centuries.
We know that David I of Scotland and his courtiers were present at the consecration of the first cathedral in 1136, worshipping at the tomb and shrine of St Mungo.
(Image: Glasgow City Archives)
This cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1189, and a new cathedral was re-consecrated in 1197. The cathedral building from 1233 largely survives today.
In 1617, the 50th anniversary of his accession to the Scottish throne, James VI and I made his first return to Scotland since becoming King of England in 1603.
He came to Glasgow on July 22, 1617 and remained there until July 24, the day of the anniversary of his accession. The city presented him with a gilt cup in the form of a salmon.
We do not know where he lodged, but it was likely to have been either in the Archbishop’s Palace or the old mansion of the Earl of Lennox, his paternal grandfather, at Stablegreen Port.
(Image: Glasgow City Archives)
Queen Victoria was a royal favourite in Glasgow visiting the city on three momentous occasions. In 1849 she was the first reigning monarch to visit the city since James VI made his visit.
More than 400,000 people were said to have lined the routes of her journey from the Trossachs to the streets of Glasgow.
On October 15, 1859, the Queen went to Loch Katrine and turned on the citizens’ “most bountiful supply of purest water”. Loch Katrine was the most important advance in the public health of Glasgow.
(Image: Glasgow City Archives)
In 1888 she opened the new Municipal Chambers in 1888. The building is dominated by its sculptured pediment, which was changed to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. The new design featured an enthroned Queen Victoria, gazing west across the city.
In 1888 she also opened the International Exhibition at Kelvingrove Park. The Queen Victoria sculpture which stood at the apex of the Doulton fountain was a star attraction at the event. It was moved from there to Glasgow Green in 1890. It underwent extensive restoration work which was completed in 2005 and moved to a spot in front of the People’s Palace.
There was a military review on Glasgow Green, attended by 50,000, and a special service in Glasgow Cathedral, to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. And Glasgow marked the day of Queen Victoria’s funeral with a procession from the Chambers to the Cathedral. Many streets were draped with black and imperial purple mourning drapery.
The reign of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was relatively short but in 1903 they laid the foundation stone for the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College in Geoge Street.
During the much longer reign of George V, he and Queen Mary were more often in the city. In 1914 they laid the foundation stone for the extension of the City Chambers. Their reign covered the first period of World War I, when King George was a frequent visitor in support of Glasgow’s war effort.
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In 1917 along with military leaders, Geoge V attended an event in the City Chambers. He was present in Ibrox Stadium which had large numbers of women war workers in attendance. And at the event Lizzie Robertson became the first woman to be decorated by the King, receiving the Medal of Order of the British Empire for the devotion to duty at Cardonald Munitions factory.
King George VI succeeded Edward VIII after his abdication. Glasgow celebrated his coronation, and he visited the city in July 1937 and opened the Empire Exhibition in 1938.
Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne in 1952, with the coronation in June 1953. Many events were organised in the city when Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited in July,
There were parades in George Square attended by large crowds. The Queen and the Duke were also greeted by large crowds at Hamden stadium.
And, finally – so far – in 2022, King Charles opened the newly refurbished Burrell Museum.
