Today, Her Majesty The Queen accompanied by her granddaughter-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge, visited King’s College London to open Bush House, the latest education and learning facilities on the Strand Campus. Her Majesty is Patron of King’s College London and previously visited in 2012 and 2002.
Such a privilege to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to King’s for the official opening of Bush House! @RoyalFamily @KensingtonRoyal #LifeAtKings pic.twitter.com/AQLMbTjLp6
— King’s College London (@KingsCollegeLon) March 19, 2019
Her Majesty and The Duchess arriving at the College.
As the fourth oldest university in England, King’s College London provides teaching and cutting-edge research in the heart of London. King’s has played a major role in many of the advances that shape modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA, and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones, and radar.
King’s College London has over 31,000 students from some 150 countries and acquired the Bush House buildings in 2015 to provide a home for many of their academic departments, as well as further learning and social spaces and enhanced student facilities. These new buildings include lecture theatres, teaching rooms, a 395-seat auditorium, and The Exchange, an open, collaborative space designed for events and exhibitions.
The Queen is reunited with her former private secretary Lord Geidt, who was forced out in a place coup in 2017. He is chairman of @KingsCollegeLon , whose Bush House campus is being visited by HMQ and the Duchess of Cambridge today pic.twitter.com/xIqjwqFYZ6
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) March 19, 2019
The Queen and the Duchess arrived at the central courtyard that connects the five Bush House Buildings. Queen met her former private secretary Lord Geidt, who was left his job at place coup in 2017. He is the chairman of King’s College London. They toured the facilities and met researchers, scientists, social scientists, and students, who are undertaking groundbreaking research across multidisciplinary subjects, as well as, providing an inspirational education to develop the world’s leaders of the future.
Her Majesty and the Duchess then moved up to the eighth floor, visiting one of two Roof Terraces which boast panoramic views of London and to meet those who worked on the conversion of Bush House.
Bush House, now part of the College’s Strand Campus, previously served as the headquarters of the BBC World Service for 70 years, from winter 1941 to summer 2012. In July 2015 King’s College London signed 50-year leases on five buildings – Bush House North & South Wings, Bush House North East Wing, Bush House South East Wing, Bush House North West Wing, and Melbourne House – on Aldwych.
Acquiring the Bush House buildings will enable the college to create a wonderful and dynamic campus in the heart of London by uniting two prime central London locations, the Aldwych and historic Strand Campus, providing state of the art education and learning facilities for our students.
Professor Ed Byrne AC, President & Principal, King’s College London said:
‘We are delighted and most grateful to Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge for opening the new Bush House buildings, here at King’s. Today, Bush House provides a creative environment that fosters innovation and collaboration and supports our vision to serve society by delivering world-class inspirational education, innovative research and life-changing impact across the globe. This unites and symbolises our national and international reputation and aspirations with our global history and connections, bringing together our interdisciplinary research and education in one place, as we strive to make the world a better place and serve society.’
This enhancement of the Strand Campus will help consolidate College’s position as a top 25 global university by providing world-class education and research facilities.
The Royal ladies viewed a robotics demonstration, including robotic surgery, and a demo showing how sensors made from textiles can measure useful information about the body.
The Queen and the Duchess then visited King’s virtual trading floor, and meet a number of students from the Entrepreneurship Institute, which exists to support entrepreneurial thinking, skills, and experiences amongst King’s students, staff, and alumni. Duchess had a handshake with the robot while Queen decided to just observe its movement rather amusingly. On display were
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- ‘smart’ textiles and clothing can measure physical performance, including muscle activity, gait, and posture, all of which help improve lives and rehabilitation from physical trauma.
- a tentacle-like robot designed for safer, faster non-invasive endoscopic surgery to treat early-stage cancers.
King’s Artificial Intelligence work on a Mars Rover, allowing it to forward plan activities and speed up scientific exploration on the red planet
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to the KCL Robotics students. Research carried out at King’s College London has led to the developments of radio, TV, mobile phones, and radar – as well as the discovery of the structure of DNA.
They concluded the visit in the development’s new auditorium, where The Queen unveiled a plaque, formally opening Bush House, before signing the Visitor’s Book alongside The Duchess of Cambridge.
Before leaving the Queen and The Duchess were presented with flowers.
A beautiful shot of The Duchess of Cambridge leaving with a bouquet in hand.
Queen Elizabeth looked lovely in a pink outfit. Her Majesty The Queen, Patron, previously visited King’s College London in November 2012 to open the Dickson Poon School of Law and in 2002 to open King’s new Maughan Library. The Duke of Edinburgh is a Life Governor of King’s College London and Her Royal Highness Princess Royal has been a Fellow since 1989.
While it was the first time Catherine alone joined the Queen for a public engagement but in the past, The Duchess of Cambridge has joined the Queen for a day of engagement along with The Duchess of Cornwall to visit the department store Fortnum & Mason on March 1, 2012, in London.
Then she joined Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh in March 2011 for the first national Diamond Jubilee Tour to Leicester.
The Duchess of Cambridge also joined Queen Elizabeth to view the exhibitions for the summer opening of Buckingham Palace in central London in July 2011 where Catherine’s wedding dress was on display.
For the day, The Duchess of Cambridge wore a new grey Catherine Walker Coat dress. The coat dress has a similar style to the grey coat from the same label that The Duchess wore to the church service in August 2018 and then for a visit to Leicester in November 2018.
The coat features a fit and flare shape, a contrast black collar style neckline, and belted waistline with a pleated skirt.
PerthsFashion on Twitter noted that Catherine’s coat dres’s design is based on the label’s Zeline coatdress and katiesroyallove noted that the design also few elements of the label’s Scarlet coat.
She paired the dress with her black Gianvito Rossi Piper 85 suede pumps debuted last week during a visit to the Children’s center.
The Duchess was carrying her Mulberry Bayswater Clutch.
It looks like Duchess is wearing a Lock & Co Black ‘Fairy Tale’ Hat, it’s the same hat The Duchess of Cambridge wore in 2012 when she visited Leicester with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.
The Duchess of Cambridge finished her look with Kiki McDonough White Topaz and Diamond Cushion Drop earrings
Next, The Duchess will visit Foundling Museum today.
