The University of the West Indies (UWI) on Monday paid respect to the Royal family, following the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

UWI said in a statement on Monday that the University’s relationship with Her Majesty and the royal family has deep historic roots.

“It was established in 1948 by the Royal Charter which authorized the granting of degrees. In 1950, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone served as the University’s first Chancellor. In 1953, Her Majesty became the University’s ‘Visitor’ (final appellate tribunal) and occupied this status until 2019, when she so graciously agreed to the University’s request to have it filled by a Caribbean jurist, he said.

The University said it was honored to have hosted Her Majesty in 1953 at the Mona campus during her maiden tour of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Her subsequent visits to the University in 1975 and 1994 were significant events and remembered with fondness.

“On behalf of the university community, I offer condolences to the royal family, the government and people of Great Britain, and citizens of the Commonwealth,”, the campus said.

Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The monarch died at Balmoral Castle on Thursday 8 September 2022 after reigning for 70 years.

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