Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today visited the University of Warwick to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the awarding of its Royal Charter of Incorporation.

During the visit Her Royal Highness met with academics, students and administrative staff from across the university and unveiled a stone inscribed with a message celebrating Warwick’s 50th Anniversary. The stone will then be used as a foundation stone for the University’s new Teaching and Learning building, which will bring together the strengths of the Warwick’s departments to widen the worlds of students through innovative teaching resources and social learning spaces.

Visiting the International Digital Laboratory, Her Royal Highness was received by Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Nigel Thrift, and local dignitaries before learning of the university’s development and current activities.

Discussing future research and education work Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, Chairman of WMG at the University of Warwick, informed Her Royal Highness of the WMG Academy for Young Engineers.

To conclude the visit and to the mark the university’s 50th Anniversary Warwick’s Pro-Chancellor, Sir George Cox, invited Her Royal Highness to unveil the Teaching and Learning building’s foundation stone.

Commenting on Her Royal Highness’ visit Professor Sir Nigel Thrift, said:

“We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the University of Warwick to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of receiving our Royal Charter of Incorporation from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

“Her Royal Highness’s visit to the University to unveil the foundation stone for our new Teaching and Learning building is a fitting occasion to reflect on our history and commemorate our most successful year.

“As we look ahead to the next fifty years we are honoured that Her Royal Highness joined us today as we mark the beginning of a new chapter in Warwick’s success”.

2015 has, for the first time, seen Warwick named as one the world’s top 100 universities in all three international university rankings. Most recently named 80th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16, Warwick had previously been named 48th in the QS annual World University Rankings, 92nd in the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities and was placed 6th in the Times and Sunday Times league table of UK universities.

Due to open in 2016, the Teaching and Learning Building will feature world class teaching and seminar spaces and innovative social learning and network spaces.

Note to Editors:

• The foundation stone unveiled by Her Royal Highness reads: This foundation stone commemorates the visit of/HRH The Princess Royal/to the University of Warwick/on 6th October 2015/to celebrate its 50th Anniversary

• Links to Hi-Res images will be distributed as soon as possible.

 

Contact:

Tom Frew, International Press Officer

E: a dot t dot frew at warwick dot ac dot uk

T: 07785433155