The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution has hosted its first royal visit in 199 years. His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Institution, on the 19th July. The Duke was escorted to BRLSI’s home in Queen Square by Professor Ian Gadd, the current Chair of the Board and Head of Development for European Projects (BSU). Along the way he learned about BRLSI’s history, activities, and ambitions as well as its plans for its bicentenary next year.

The Duke of Edinburgh was met by staff, volunteers, and directors of the Board, and accompanied by Collections Manager, Matt Williams, was treated to a tour of the current BRLSI exhibition ‘Riches of the Earth’ and the BRLSI vaults. This was followed by tea and cake reception where the Duke talked to a range of volunteers, met past and current members of the Board of Directors. The Duke heard more about the exciting plans for the Institution’s future, including a 12-month series of activities and events to mark its bicentenary and its hopes of redeveloping its space at Queen Square to become a ‘cultural hub’ for the city of Bath.

At the close of the visit, Professor Gadd presented the Duke with a BRLSI publication, Innovation and Discovery, which celebrates Bath’s history of innovation and discovery in science, medicine and technology.

Professor Gadd said:
“We are honoured to have hosted His Royal Highness. This was a very special occasion for the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution as the first royal visit in our history, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to show how the Institution is one of Bath’s historic and cultural jewels, to celebrate the hard work and enthusiasm of our volunteers and staff, and to talk about our exciting plans for the bicentenary year and beyond.”

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Credit: Joe Short, BRLSI