Britain granted “city” status to Gibraltar on Monday, in what outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said was a “major recognition” of the colony’s “rich history”.
According to the BBC, authorities in the colony earlier this year applied for official recognition of Gibraltar, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, in her 70th year on the throne.
Through the National Archives, the researchers discovered that Gibraltar had already been designated as a city in 1842, during the reign of Queen Victoria, although this fact has been omitted, for unknown reasons.
The territory now sees its status reaffirmed – a “great recognition” – according to the outgoing British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, of Gibraltar’s “rich history”.
During Elizabeth II’s recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations, 39 towns formally applied for city status, with Doncaster, Bangor and Dunfermline amongst other regions achieving this.
Gibraltar now becomes one of only five territories outside the UK to be recognizedin addition to Hamilton (Bermuda), Jamestown (Saint Helena), Douglas (Isle of Man) and Stanley (Islas Malvinas).
City status is associated with regions that have a cathedral, a university or a large number of inhabitants, although there are no official rules to grant it, and it is granted by the Queen on the advice of the Government.
There are no economic benefits to becoming a city, although there are, according to the BBC, a boost to local communities.
Gibraltar has been part of the United Kingdom since 1713, when the Treaty of Utrecht was signed.
Source: Observadora
