180 years late – Gibraltar received its status as a city

by time news

Historical correction: Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed the granting of city status to Gibraltar, 180 years after Queen Victoria granted the territory the special status, but the decree was not implemented in practice for an unclear reason.

Gibraltar, a peninsula located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea at the southern end of Spain, became a British territory in 1713 as part of a peace treaty in which Spain gave it up in exchange for the end of British involvement in the War of the Spanish Succession.

In two referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining under the British flag. As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne, 39 localities applied for official city status, so that they could increase the number of residents and build a cathedral and a university – and eight of them were awarded the status.

The authorities in Gibraltar also submitted a request, but a search in the archives revealed that the territory, where 33 thousand residents live, had already received the status of a city with the approval of Queen Victoria in 1842 – however, for an unknown reason, it did not reach a rule of actual implementation. Now, a few days before he vacates his office, Prime Minister Johnson announced that Gibraltar enters the official list of cities, which has 81 settlements.

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“It’s great to see official recognition being given to the city of Gibraltar, a huge tribute to its rich history and dynamism,” he said. “This official recognition confirms Gibraltar’s special status within Her Majesty’s territories, and rightly symbolizes the pride Gibraltarians feel in their community and their unique heritage.”

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