Celebrations
The Prizes are celebrated every two years at a series of ceremonial events traditionally held at St James’s Palace, London’s Guildhall and Buckingham Palace.
The Royal Anniversary Trust and His Majesty The King are committed to recognising and celebrating outstanding achievement in universities and colleges through the UK. The events which the Trust hold to celebrate each round of Prizes, and the bestowal of this national honour, reflect and confirm the respect and gratitude of the nation for the contribution Prize-winners have made both to the UK economy and to the wider good of society.
The Prize-winners’ announcement
The announcement of the Prize-winners is traditionally held in St James’s Palace by kind permission of His Majesty The King. The Trust’s Chair formally announces the names of the Prize-winners at an evening reception attended by representatives from the Prize-winning universities and colleges. The Trust also welcomes many of the expert Readers who give their time and expertise reviewing entries during the assessment process to this special event in addition to government representatives from the four nations of the UK.
The Guildhall gala
The Royal Anniversary Trust hosts a Prize-winners’ gala dinner at London’s Guildhall for guests from the winning colleges and universities, together with supporters, government representatives, industry experts and friends of the Trust. Following a drinks reception, Prize-winners process into the Great Hall, heralded by ceremonial trumpeters. Through the evening guests are addressed by the Chair of Trustees of the Royal Anniversary Trust and a key speaker. There is also a sung grace and musical interlude, with the evening traditionally drawn to a close by The King’s Piper.
The Presentation Ceremony
The morning after the Guildhall dinner, representatives of the Prize-winning universities and colleges attend an investiture traditionally held at Buckingham Palace and attended by senior members of the Royal Family. In most years the award, a silver gilt medallion and illuminated certificate, has been presented to the Prize-winners by the Monarch. The investiture ceremony is followed by a more informal drinks reception in the Palace where the Prize-winners have an opportunity to celebrate their achievement and discuss their outstanding work with other guests and with the members of the Royal Family in attendance.
The silver medallions given to Prize-winners were designed by the late Gerald Benney, one of the leading British silversmiths of the twentieth century. Now the House of Benney and the making of the medallions is led by Simon Benney, Gerald’s son who, like his father before him, is goldsmith to The Royal Family. The medallions are engraved with the name of the Prize-winning institutions and bear the cypher of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The certificate, which is custom printed with gold leaf, was designed by students at the Central Saint Martins School of Arts, University of the Arts London in 2009. Each certificate is individually signed by His Majesty The King.
