The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher & Further Education recognise and promote world-class achievement and excellence.
As part of the national honours system, the Prizes are the UK’s most prestigious educational awards. Every two years, these Prizes are awarded to universities and colleges of further education for work of outstanding excellence.
With The Queen’s approval and all party support in Parliament, the Prizes were established in 1994 by the Royal Anniversary Trust. The programme is managed independently of government by the Trust.
"The rigour with which the eventual winners are chosen is quite unparalleled. As a result, The Queen's Anniversary Prizes make a powerful statement about the sheer excellence that our academic institutions regularly deliver." Sir Graeme Davies, Vice Chancellor, University of London
The Trust’s Awards Council selects the Prizewinners from a shortlist and presents its choice to the Prime Minister for advice to The Queen.
Following The Queen’s assent, the Prizewinners are announced at a reception held at St James’s Palace. Shortly afterwards, representatives of each winning institution are presented with the Prize Medal and Certificate by The Queen, with The Duke of Edinburgh, at Buckingham Palace. After the ceremony, students and staff have an opportunity to discuss their work with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at an informal Palace reception.
On the evening before the presentation a celebratory banquet is held at Guildhall in the City of London. The event honours the achievement of the Prizewinners and brings them together with leading figures in economic, social and cultural life from the UK and elsewhere.
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