King Charles’s sister becomes Glasgow Caledonian University’s first royal patron, continuing her late mother’s legacy.
Princess Anne has been given a historic honour in recognition of her lifelong commitment to public service and the Crown. The Princess Royal, often described as the hardest-working member of the royal family, has become the first-ever royal patron of Glasgow Caledonian University.
The appointment comes as the university prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of one of its founding institutions, originally known as the Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science.
In a statement, Professor Steve Decent, Principal of Glasgow Caledonian University, expressed his appreciation for the royal connection. “It is a great honour for Glasgow Caledonian to have the Princess Royal as patron of our university and to renew our long-standing royal connection,” he said.
He noted that the timing of the appointment made it even more meaningful as the university approaches its milestone year. “Now, as then, we remain dedicated to delivering positive social and economic benefits to the communities we serve,” he added.
Professor Decent also said the university looks forward to working closely with the Princess Royal on shared areas of interest and exploring new opportunities to support positive change. “We offer our sincere thanks to the Princess Royal for agreeing to be our patron, and we very much look forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness to see our work first-hand,” he said.
The connection between the royal family and the institution runs deep. The late Queen Elizabeth II was one of the founding patrons, and the university—now home to nearly 23,000 students—continues to take pride in providing access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Princess Anne’s new role reinforces her reputation as one of the most dedicated working royals, carrying forward her mother’s tradition of service and commitment to education.
