Prince Charles visits Oxford University in style – everything you need to know

The flower usually symbolises good luck, but considering the Prince was 40 minutes late due to incidents on both the M40 and M4 it perhaps didn’t quite do the trick. 

READ MORE: Prince Charles unveils new Oxford university building

Prince Charles meets students. Photo by Ed Nix

Later the future king confided to students from Oxford University: “It hasn’t been my day today and it hasn’t been yours either”. 

The Prince was greeted by officials, before chatting and joking with the crowd of students and faculty gathered to see him arrive. 

He paid particular attention to a group of students from the rowing club, one of whom held a croquet bat that was commented on by the Prince.

Frederick Follows, 23, the croquet-bat-wielding student, who was appointed as a lecturer that day from Trinity College, said before the meeting: “It’s very exciting, I had no idea he’d be coming here.

“I hope they don’t confiscate my bat.”

Prince Charles meets lecturer Freddie Follows, 23, from Trinity College who got out his croquet stick. Photo by Shosha Adie

His Royal Highness’s first appointment was to open the new Levine Building at the college, via the College Chapel where restoration work had been done to the Grinling Gibbons Carvings.

He was shown around by tge college’s President, Dame Hilary Boulding as well as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten; Oxfordshire Lord-Lieutenant Marjorie Glasgow BEM and Oxford’s Lord Mayor Mark Lygo.

Prince Charles was shown around by officials.

The mayor said he was ‘ecstatic’ that Prince Charles came to Oxford, adding: “It’s a privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to our wonderfully diverse city of Oxford.

His Royal Highness visited the College Chapel where restoration work had been done to the Grinling Gibbons Carvings. Photo by Ed Nix

The new Levine Building is the first major upgrade of the college’s academic facilities in more than 50 years.

It provides world-class facilities for teaching, residential accommodation, public outreach and social activity including purpose-built teaching rooms, student bedrooms, a large flexible function room, and an informal study/community space with café.

READ MORE: Prince Charles meets Oxford students from underrepresented backgrounds

Prince Charles meets students after performance. Photo by Shosha Adie

The Prince of Wales was treated to a presentation by students about life at the university, before giving a speech where he thanked donors who helped fund the building and sang the praises of Oxford academics for their work on the Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The Prince of Wales said: “Trinity College presents the University at a human scale.  And the work of your academics – as we’ve seen – is making a real difference to people’s lives.

“And I can only congratulate you all on the vital work you do and the generosity of spirit that underpins it.

“And ladies and gentlemen, that same generosity has clearly infused the development of this building.

Prince Charles gives speach at Trinity College new auditorium after a presentation by students. Photo by Ed Nix

He continued: “So many former students contributed to the fundraising campaign, no doubt because of their own memorable and life-changing experiences here and the desire to make that possible for others.”

“It is, of course, a great responsibility to create new facilities within an inspiring and historic setting – and indeed one that includes buildings by such giants as Christopher Wren. 

“Therefore I can only offer my warmest congratulations to the many people who contributed their talents and expertise to create a building worthy of this historic site.”

Weidenfeld Hoffmann Scholar Rai Sengupta, 25, a graduate student at Trinity College..

Weidenfeld Hoffmann Scholar Rai Sengupta, 25, a graduate student who spoke about her future aims to help women and children in India as part of the student presentation spoke to Prince Charles after the performance.

She said: “It was wonderful to interact with him afterwards and he seemed really interested in our work so it was a great experience.

Following his speech and meeting the student performers Prince Charles shortly made an appearance at a champagne and strawberries reception. 

Here he greeted and congratulated former student turned oil magnate Peter Levine who provided the biggest donation for the building. 

Finishing his visit to Trinity College, Prince Charles returned to his car and was driven around the corner to University College on High Street. 

Prince Charles meets oil magnate main donor for new Trinity College building Peter Levine and his wife Sally.

Dame Hilary said: “It was a huge privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to Trinity College to launch this wonderful building which will transform what we can offer our students and academics, as well as Oxfordshire school students and the wider Oxford community.”

Five minutes later Baroness Valerie Amos, the first black master of an Oxford college, welcomed His Royal Highness and invited him into her residence at the University College.

University College Committee Members Michael Hutchinson, 25, Ben Solomons, 19, and Naroa Ibarra-Aizpurua, 24 (left to right)

Here the Prince met with student committee members from the college before holding a discussion with twelve students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Naroa Ibarra-Aizpura, 24, from Spain who is the Vice President of the MCR at University College Oxford spoke to Prince Charles on entry and described him as “really funny and nice” after he complimented her on her English.

Prince Charles holds discussions with students at Oxford University with Baroness Amos. Photo by Ed Nix

The students in the meeting were either recipients of the Amos Bursary, to support talents of African and Caribbean heritage, or from Opportunity Oxford, a programme to support Oxford University offer holders bridge the gap between 6th form and university.

Prince Charles meets students from underrepresented backgrounds at University College with Baroness Amos. Photo by Ed Nix

The students were invited by Baroness Amos to share their journeys to Oxford, Charles listening in. 

Kwabena Osei, 20, [pictured in the second row of the group photo, to the left] who is a recipient of the Amos Bursary and studying history and politics said on meeting Prince Charles: “I think it was very daunting. When I tell my mum she’s not going to believe me!

“We all went around introducing ourselves and our journey to Oxford. I told him about my journey and my own personal challenges to get here. He asked me some questions about my mum who is from Ghana.”

The 20-year-old from Enfield in North London shared that he hadn’t even thought of applying for Oxford or the bursary until he was persuaded by a family friend.

University College students Charlie Gundy, 19, Mytanwy Tayler, 18, Isabella Penna, 19, and Peter Moor, 20, waited outside in the hopes to meet the Prince.

After the discussion, students hurried off to their 4pm lectures as Prince Charles drove away, presumably avoiding the M40 this time around.

A straggler who had managed to miss the event asked what all the fuss was about, to which another student replied “Only the future king of England”.

This story was written by Shosha Adie. 

She joined the team in 2022 as a digital reporter.   

To get in touch with her email: Shosha.Adie@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter: @ShoshaAdie

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