Our Patron Queen Elizabeth II

We are deeply grateful to Queen Elizabeth ll, who was Patron of the College from 1953 to 2022. During this time The Queen visited the College no less than 11 times, most recently in 2016, and took an active interest in College affairs. We are deeply thankful for her support of the College.

We were saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, on 8 September 2022.

The Queen’s long association with Goodenough College began in March 1950 when, as the 23-year-old Princess Elizabeth, she spoke at the launch of the Lord Mayor’s Thanksgiving Fund appeal which raised funds for the expansion of College.

In 1953, The Queen agreed to be London House’s Patron and, in November 1957, she made her first official visit to Mecklenburgh Square to see London House and to declare William Goodenough House open. Six years later, in 1963, The Queen made her second visit to the College to inspect the new north wing of London House and take tea in the Churchill Room.

Over the last 70 years the College welcomed The Queen for regular visits: in 1963, 1965, 1975, 1980, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2016 (to mark the College’s 75^th birthday), 2011 (to mark the 60^th anniversary of her opening of William Goodenough House) and, most recently in 2016.