Message to staff and students, Friday 9 September
Dear colleagues
The University was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
We have enjoyed close ties to Her Majesty and many of you will remember her visit here in 2012 to formally open our library.
Our thoughts are with her family, including our Chancellor, at this sad time.
As a mark of respect, our flags will be flown at half-mast and a space for reflection is available in our Chapel. The University will join national mourning arrangements for the State Funeral and we will update you on this as soon as possible but for now teaching, exams and assessment will continue during the mourning period.
The University enjoyed opportunities to address Her Majesty in person and first did so back in May 1952, ahead of her Coronation.
In response to the Aberdeen address she wrote: ‘The part of Scotland which the University serves is firmly established in my affections, and I gladly assure you of my intention to continue the interest which my family has always taken in your work.’
This is a commitment which was honoured throughout her long reign with visits to open our first halls of residence in 1960, as part of our quincentenary celebrations in 1995 when she opened our Institute of Medical Sciences building and in 2002 when the Scottish Parliament was in-session in King’s College Conference Centre.
Her last visit was in 2012 when she opened the Sir Duncan Rice Library alongside His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh - a day I’m sure many of you will remember.
In addition to her formal visits the Queen’s affection for this region and her frequent visits to Balmoral Castle presented many other opportunities for our community. In recent years our choirs performed for her as part of her Sunday worship at Crathie Kirk and many of our musicians performed for Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace.
The support of Her Majesty has provided a global platform for University voices and has helped to showcase our music, research and facilities around the world.
We recognise the Queen’s steadfast commitment to service, delivered with grace both in good times and in demanding circumstances. The memories of her visits and links to our community will live on long in our collective memories.
George
George Boyne
Principal and Vice-Chancellor