What is Royal about the Royal Borough of Greenwich?

Posted on 13 December 2021

Greenwich joined an exclusive group as the fourth local authority to become a royal borough and the first to be afforded this status for more than 80 years as one of the first actions to mark the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

The new legal status was made official with a Royal Charter signed by the Queen, which recognises the close links between Greenwich and royalty since the Middle Ages. Greenwich has several buildings with royal status including the Old Royal Naval College, built on the site of the old Greenwich Palace where Elizabeth I, Mary I and Henry VIII were born.

Being awarded ‘Royal ‘ status for a borough is often compared to a person being awarded an honour – but is much more exclusive with only three others – Kensington & Chelsea, Windsor & Maidenhead and Kingston upon Thames – in existence.

The new royal coat of arms can already be seen on some signs on the streets of the south-east London borough and it features a Tudor rose, for which special dispensation was granted. Look out for the emblem on the new streets signs as they replace the old street signs as they wear out.