Queen makes Port Stanley a city on the 40th anniversary of Falklands War: Honour is bestowed on seven more towns across British Isles from Dunfermline to Milton Keynes to mark Platinum Jubilee

  • Capital of Falklands Islands won coveted city status alongside seven other towns
  • Some 39 places across UK made bid to be winner for Queen's Platinum Jubilee
  • Milton Keynes, one of the largest on the list, made city following its fourth bid 
  • Judges look at civic pride, heritage and innovation before making their decision 

The Queen has made Port Stanley a city on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War - as seven more towns across the British Isles are bestowed the high honour.

The capital of the Falkland Islands is among eight towns to win the coveted city status as part of Her Majesty's celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee

Port Stanley in the Falklands Islands is the first Overseas Territory to win the competition for city status, while Douglas on the Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man has also claimed the civic honour.

The Cabinet Office said that Bangor in Northern Ireland, along with Colchester, Doncaster and Milton Keynes in England, plus Dunfermline in Scotland and Wrexham in Wales have also won the honour.

The announcement means there are now are now 76 cities in the UK - 55 in England, eight in Scotland, seven in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

Becoming a city does not grant a town any extra rights, but it is thought to grant a place more prestige and increase the number of visitors.

Ministers work with an expert panel to make their recommendations from the extensive list before it is handed to the Queen for approval. 

The high honour comes on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, which ended on June 14, 1982 as Argentinian commander General Mario Menendez surrendered to the British at Port Stanley.

The Queen has made Port Stanley a city on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War - as seven more towns across the British Isles are bestowed the high honour to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee

The Queen has made Port Stanley a city on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War - as seven more towns across the British Isles are bestowed the high honour to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee

Port Stanley in the Falklands Islands is the first Overseas Territory to win the competition for city status, while Douglas on the Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man has also claimed the civic honour

Port Stanley in the Falklands Islands is the first Overseas Territory to win the competition for city status, while Douglas on the Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man has also claimed the civic honour

The capital of the Falkland Islands (pictured) is among eight towns to win the coveted city status

Pictured: St Georges Church in Doncaster across the canal from the Waterfront with moored up house boats on the canal in front

Pictured: St Georges Church in Doncaster across the canal from the Waterfront with moored up house boats on the canal in front

Wrexham's (pictured) Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the region, which is a base for firms including JCB and Kellogg's as well as aerospace giants such as Magellen and Cytec, is to become home to the new National Football Museum of Wales

Wrexham's (pictured) Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the region, which is a base for firms including JCB and Kellogg's as well as aerospace giants such as Magellen and Cytec, is to become home to the new National Football Museum of Wales

Douglas (pictured) is a cultural hub where The Royal Hall is home to annual flagship concerts by the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, the Isle of Man Choral Society, and the Manx Last Night of the Proms

Douglas (pictured) is a cultural hub where The Royal Hall is home to annual flagship concerts by the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, the Isle of Man Choral Society, and the Manx Last Night of the Proms

The 10-week undeclared conflict began over British dependant territories located in the South Atlantic - the Falklands and associated island dependencies.

The fighting cost the lives of 255 British servicemen, three Falkland Islanders and 655 Argentinian soldiers.

Britain and Argentina's 10-week war 

Fascist military leaders in Argentina invaded the British Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982.

At a time of economic crisis, Argentine leaders believed recapturing the Falklands would restore support for the ruling party.

The UK had ruled the islands for 150 years at the time of the invasion, which the junta justified by saying they had inherited the land from Spain in the 1800s, citing the Falklands' proximity to South America as a further reason.

But Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher deployed a task force to fight on behalf of the traditionally British residents of the Falklands.

In the short war that followed, 649 Argentinians died, along with 255 British servicemen and three islanders.

Following a tough sea battle, British forces made landing to the north of Stanley, before fighting their way in to the capital. 

The Argentinians surrendered to Britain on 14 June 1982.

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They are some of the places that 'make Britain great', according Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay.

He said: 'What was clear to me during the process of assessing each application was the pride that people felt for their communities, local cultural heritage and the Royal Family.

'As we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's colossal contribution to society, I am thrilled that we are able to recognise some of the many places that make Britain great.

'It is also incredibly reflective of Her Majesty's global outlook and years of international service that applicants from the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have been selected as winners for the first time.'

The new cities can expect a boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for people who live there, according to the Cabinet Office.

Port Stanley's sustainable practices and civic pride also helped in sealing its new status.

The award comes as the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War after Argentine forces invaded the Falklands on April 2 1982 has seen residents come together to remember the sacrifices made during the conflict.

It boasts a calendar of celebrations and special events such as Peat Cutting Monday and the annual Port Stanley Sports Race Meeting, which includes horse racing and gymkhana events.

The Falkland Islands has been a regular hotspot for royal visits for many years, starting with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1957.

The Duke of Cambridge was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in 2016.

Port Stanley's top quality fisheries management has been key to the long-term sustainability of the industry and it is home to the Government Fisheries Departments, which has seen the development of a range of world leading bycatch mitigation measures.

The high honour comes on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, which ended on June 14, 1982 as Argentinian commander General Mario Menendez surrendered to the British at Port Stanley

The high honour comes on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, which ended on June 14, 1982 as Argentinian commander General Mario Menendez surrendered to the British at Port Stanley

Pictured: Prince Andrew returns from the Falklands War on September 17, 1982, on board HMS Invincible. He arrived with the rest of the crew in Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth where he was met by the Queen and the late Prince Philip with Princess Anne

Pictured: Prince Andrew returns from the Falklands War on September 17, 1982, on board HMS Invincible. He arrived with the rest of the crew in Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth where he was met by the Queen and the late Prince Philip with Princess Anne

Pictured: The Falklands War in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands in April, 1982

Pictured: The Falklands War in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands in April, 1982

Douglas is a cultural hub where The Royal Hall is home to annual flagship concerts by the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, the Isle of Man Choral Society, and the Manx Last Night of the Proms. It stages the annual Manx Music Festival and there is also an Isle of Man Film Festival plus events which celebrate Gaelic culture.

The Queen is patron of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which originates from Douglas. George IV was the original patron, before it became the RNLI under the patronage of Queen Victoria in 1854.

Douglas has also given its industrial quayside and town centre area and upgrade in a sweep of urban regeneration.

Doncaster's bid showcased its community spirit and resilience after the floods in 2019 where locals rallied to provide relief.

It has more than 70 places of worship and its mosques and gurdwaras became pop-up vaccination centres during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Doncaster was originally a Roman settlement and has an industrial heritage that is built on rail and coal.

Bangor, due to being set at the mouth of the Belfast Lough, became a key site for allied forces during the Second World War

Bangor, due to being set at the mouth of the Belfast Lough, became a key site for allied forces during the Second World War

In May 1944, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a speech to 30,000 assembled troops in Bangor, shortly before ships left for Normandy and D-Day. Pictured: The seaside town in Northern Ireland has been awarded city status to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Important locomotives including The Flying Scotsman and The Mallard were both built there.

Horse racing fans will know Doncaster as the home of the classic St Leger, founded in 1776, which has been graced by various members of the royal family over the years.

Wrexham's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the region, which is a base for firms including JCB and Kellogg's as well as aerospace giants such as Magellen and Cytec, is to become home to the new National Football Museum of Wales.

Wrexham Football Club, founded in 1864, has the world's oldest international ground and gained more attention last year when it was bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Dunfermline's bid pointed out that its annual fireworks display attracts around 30,000 local people, while the Christmas light event packed the town centre with 10,000 people.

Dunfermline's most famous son is Andrew Carnegie, whose steel industry helped build America. His philanthropy started the world's public library system, and he gave away the equivalent of 65 billion dollars in today's money.

Milton Keynes includes 27 conservation areas, 50 scheduled monuments, 1,100 listed buildings and 270 pieces of public art. Pictured: An aerial view of the Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve, Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes was granted city status on its fourth application after previously failing in 2000, 2002 and 2012. Pictured: The lake and mansion house at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire

Milton Keynes was granted city status on its fourth application after previously failing in 2000, 2002 and 2012. Pictured: The lake and mansion house at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire

Bangor, due to being set at the mouth of the Belfast Lough, became a key site for allied forces during the Second World War. In May 1944, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a speech to 30,000 assembled troops in Bangor, shortly before ships left for Normandy and D-Day.

The Milton Keynes new town includes 27 conservation areas, 50 scheduled monuments, 1,100 listed buildings and 270 pieces of public art. 

It has 84,500 citizens who are volunteers and the town also claims to have a higher per head of population number of volunteers than any other UK city. The Open University, was established there in 1969.

Milton Keynes was granted city status on its fourth application after previously failing in 2000, 2002 and 2012. 

Colchester is Britain's first recorded settlement and its first capital. It has been a Garrison Town for the past 165 years and for the past 21 years has been home to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the UK's rapid response force.

Pictured: A view across the park and ground of Norman castle at Colchester in the summertime

Pictured: A view across the park and ground of Norman castle at Colchester in the summertime

Colchester is Britain's first recorded settlement and its first capital. It has been a Garrison Town for the past 165 years and for the past 21 years has been home to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the UK's rapid response force. pictured: Colchester High Street

Colchester is Britain's first recorded settlement and its first capital. It has been a Garrison Town for the past 165 years and for the past 21 years has been home to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the UK's rapid response force. pictured: Colchester High Street

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries described city status as 'a huge accolade' adding: 'This competition showcases the best of Britain and the Overseas Territories and will act as a lasting legacy of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.'

The Cabinet Office said Perth, which was granted city status in 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, has seen its local economy expand by 12% in the decade after it secured its new title.

Richard Hyslop, UK Representative to the Falklands government, said: 'Being granted City Status in the Platinum Jubilee year is a tremendous honour, made all the more significant as 2022 also marks the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands and reflects the tremendous transformation that has taken place in Port Stanley over the last 40 years.'

Isle of Man's chief minister Alfred Cannan said: 'Douglas being named as one of the eight city status winners, and leading the way for the Crown Dependencies, is a huge honour for the island and celebrates our unique mix of culture, history and heritage.

'The accolade is a marvellous way to mark our relationship with Her Majesty The Queen, our Lord of Mann, while celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.'

At the previous Royal celebration - the Golden Jubilee in 2002 - Preston and Newport were made cities, while the Millenium celebrations two years prior saw Brighton and Hove and Wolverhampton. 

City status: Its history, what it means and how it is granted 

What does it mean to become a city? 

Following today's announcement, there are now 76 cities in the UK - 55 in England, eight in Scotland, seven in Wales and six in Northern Ireland. 

Whilst becoming a city does not grant a town any extra rights, it does bestow more prestige on a place, potentially boosting tourism and local businesses.

The Cabinet Office said Perth, which was granted city status in 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, has seen its local economy expand by 12 per cent in the decade after it secured its new title.

Illustrating the impact that city status can have, Dunfermline resident Helen Law, who helped to win the honour for her town in the latest announcement, said it 'means a lot'.

Speaking to the BBC, she said that when it comes to funding applications, the new status 'will be seen as in our favour'.  

The new cities can expect a boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for people who live there, according to the Cabinet Office. 

How does a town get city status? 

City status is officially granted by the Queen on advice of the Government. 

Her Majesty issues what are known as 'letters patent' - documents officially issued by the monarch.  

Towns can apply to the Government for city status via competitions run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The competitions are timed with significant events such as jubilees. There is no mechanism for towns to gain city status outside of these competitions.

What is the historical importance of city status? 

Cities historically were settlements with cathedrals, which is why small places such as Ely in Cambridgeshire and Salisbury remain cities. 

Birmingham was the first town without a cathedral to be granted city status in 1889.

Many UK cities can date gaining their status to a charter several hundred years ago, whilst a much smaller number, including London, claim it from 'time immemorial'. 

Others with city status predating records include Canterbury, Durham, ELy and Winchester.  

Which towns have most recently become cities? 

Southend was granted city status in October last year in tribute to murdered Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who had run a decades-long campaign for his town to receive the honour. 

Southend had been among the towns competing to get the honour as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.  

In the Diamond Jubilee competition in 2012, city status was granted to three towns out of 25 applicants: Perth in Scotland, Chelmsford in England and St. Asaph in Wales.

To mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, Preston, Stirling, Newport, Lisburn and Newry won bids to become cities. 

A competition was also held to mark the Millennium in 2000, with Brighton, Inverness and Wolverhampton getting city status.  

What are the largest and smallest cities in the UK? 

London is the largest city in the UK, with a population of more than nine million. The smallest is St David's in Wales, which has only 1,600 residents.  

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