London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

King Charles visits Milton Keynes to mark city status

King Charles visits Milton Keynes to mark city status

King Charles III has joined community groups and business leaders to mark the granting of city status to Milton Keynes.

It was awarded the title in May 2022 as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Camilla, the Queen Consort, was unable to attend after a positive Covid test.

Anti-monarchy protesters who joined the crowds were outnumbered by royal supporters chanting "God save the King".

A reception was held at the Milton Keynes' Church of Christ the Cornerstone, where the King met representatives from local charities and businesses.

The King gave a speech during the ceremony

On his arrival, King Charles went on an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands with some of about 300 people who lined the barriers.

However, anti-monarchy protesters from the campaign group Republic waved banners reading "Not My King", with one shouting: "Why are you wasting money on a coronation Charles?"

Graham Smith, from Republic - which campaigns for an elected head of state - said the protest was aimed at raising awareness for a larger demonstration his organisation is planning for the coronation in May.
A group of anti-monarchy protesters were in the crowd in Milton Keynes


During a speech at the church, the King described Milton Keynes as "something special in its own right, that we can celebrate with its inhabitants at this moment in its history".

After the ceremony at the church, the King visited the Milton Keynes (MK) Food Bank to see the support it provides to communities across the city.

One of the themes of the King's first Christmas address was the cost of living crisis, and the broadcast featured footage of a food bank.

Louisa Hobbs, operations manager of MK Food Bank, which supports more than 5,000 families across the city, showed King Charles around and said his interest was clearly "genuine" after he explicitly requested to visit a food bank in Milton Keynes.

The King also visited a food bank in the new city

King Charles met volunteers at the food bank


Milton Keynes first applied for city status in 2000, then in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee, and again in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee.

It was eventually awarded the title in May 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee events.

The monarch met a group of Ukrainians at the city's celebratory ceremony


'A grand vision'
The concrete cows, created by the Canadian artist Liz Leyh in 1978, became a symbol of Milton Keynes


In January 1967, plans for a new town were approved - and soon a quiet Buckinghamshire village became the vast development of Milton Keynes.

The then housing minister Anthony Greenwood granted permission to transform an 8,850-hectare area of villages and farmland into a town for 250,000 people.

It was a grand vision - part of the third and final phase of the government's plans to relocate populations from London and other cities that suffered immense bomb damage during World War Two.

Some five decades on, Milton Keynes has a population of about 280,000 and has become home to more than 10,000 businesses.

It is used as a model for new towns across the world.

Bletchley Park, the hub of code-breaking in World War Two, is part of the Milton Keynes district


The new city is home to the distance-learning institution, the Open University, which was established by Royal Charter in 1969 and is the largest university in the UK in terms of students enrolled.

The Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust established the nation's first independent medical school, and Milton Keynes was the first place to introduce kerbside recycling in the UK.

Today, 140 languages are spoken in Milton Keynes' schools including those of every Commonwealth nation, and 30 religions are observed, the council said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×