His Majesty King Charles III, then HRH The Prince of Wales, visited Jesus for the first time in 1971 to open the Old Members Building, in celebration of the College’s 400th anniversary. He was accompanied on the visit by the then Principal Sir John Habakkuk, after whom one of the meeting rooms in the building was later named.
His Majesty, then HRH The Prince of Wales, with Principal Sir John Habakkuk, on a visit to Jesus College in 1971.
Principal Sir John Habakkuk escorted the then HRH The Prince of Wales on a tour of the College.
The then HRH Prince of Wales enjoyed lunch in Hall with members of the College.
His Majesty returned to the College in 2020 to mark the appointment of the recently-restored Jesus Chair of Celtic, and to learn about Jesus’ student access initiatives in Wales. He was welcomed back by current Principal, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, and Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. On arrival, His Majesty was greeted by sixty primary school children from three Welsh schools which form part of the College’s Welsh Access Programme. He also met students and staff of the College.
Children from three Welsh primary schools welcomed the royal visitor as he arrived in First Quad of Jesus College for a visit in March 2020. Image credit: John Cairns
His Majesty the King, then HRH The Prince of Wales, meets Jesus College students, accompanied by Principal Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng.
His Majesty then attended a private reception in the Principal’s Lodgings before attending Hall, where he met a specially-invited group of College alumni and members, including the newly-appointed Jesus Chair of Celtic Dr David Willis. The Jesus Chair of Celtic has been entrusted to support the scholarship and preservation of Celtic languages, literature and history at the University of Oxford since 1877 and is the only Professorship in Celtic at an English University. Dr Willis’ appointment came following an eight-year hiatus and a £3.25m fundraising campaign to permanently safeguard the role.
His Majesty meets Jesus College Fellows Professor Katrin Kohl (left) and Professor Caroline Warman (centre).
While in Hall, His Majesty also enjoyed a recital of the Gweddi Coleg Iesu, a Welsh Prayer sung by members of the student consort choir directed by Peter Parshall, Chapel Music Coordinator. He viewed the Red Book of Hergest, which is owned by College and kept at the Bodleian Library. The book, one of the most important written in Welsh, is a compilation of chronicles, mythology, romances and court poetry. College Librarian Owen McKnight, who had the honour of showing His Majesty the book alongside Thomas Charles Edwards, Emeritus Professor of Celtic, said, “The Red Book of Hergest was written shortly after 1382 and is one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. The Prince was shown a page that details the herbal remedies of the legendary Physicians of Myddfai.”
His Majesty viewed the Red Book of Hergest, which is owned by College and kept at the Bodleian Library. The book, one of the most important written in Welsh, is a compilation of chronicles, mythology, romances and court poetry. Image credit: John Cairns
Following his visit to Jesus, His Majesty attended Kellogg College where he formally received the Bynum Tudor Fellowship and met with members of the new Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation. Kellogg College had welcomed His Majesty into the Bynum Tudor Fellowship in 2019.
There are a number of services and events taking place across Oxford to mark the Coronation, and further details can be found below:
His Royal Highness first visited College in 1971 to open the Habakkuk Building as part of our 400th anniversary celebrations and was welcomed back by current Principal, Sir Nigel Shadbolt, and Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was greeted by sixty primary school children, all holding bunches of daffodils, from three Welsh schools which form part of our Welsh Access Programme. He also met Dr Matthew Williams and Shelley Knowles, who oversee all the College’s access programmes.
HRH The Prince of Wales with Jesus College Principal Prof Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng meeting students and members of local Welsh primary schools.
Jesus College is known as ‘the Welsh college’ – it was founded in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth I at the request of a Welsh lawyer and clergyman, Hugh Price. We continue to maintain strong links with Wales today. For example, our Welsh Access Programme reaches out to young people in underserved communities across the country to encourage them to think about applying to Oxford. The College’s inclusive ethos means we aim to attract and select the very best applicants based on their academic potential rather than their socio-economic status, ethnicity, religion or school-type.
His Royal Highness then attended a private reception in the Principals Lodging where he met Jesus College alumnus and supporter Oliver Thomas and his family. Mr Thomas, a managing partner at Grafton Capital which he founded in 2014, has recently donated £1m to support our flagship Welsh Access Summer School. The Summer School is a collaboration with the Welsh government’s Seren Network and enables sixth formers in Welsh state schools to experience life at the University of Oxford in order to encourage more applications from a cohort that is often underrepresented.
Children from three Welsh primary schools joined the College’s celebration of its strong links with Wales. Photo: John Cairns
His Royal Highness then moved to Hall where he met a specially-invited group of College alumni and members, including the newly-appointed Jesus Chair of Celtic Dr David Willis. The Jesus Chair of Celtic has been entrusted to support the scholarship and preservation of Celtic languages, literature and history at the University of Oxford since 1877 and is the only Professorship in Celtic at an English University. Dr Willis’ appointment comes following an eight-year hiatus and a £3.25m fundraising campaign to permanently safeguard the role.
HRH The Prince of Wales meets Jesus College Fellows
While in Hall, His Royal Highness also enjoyed a recital of the Gweddi Coleg Iesu, a Welsh Prayer sung by members of the student consort choir directed by Peter Parshall, Chapel Music Coordinator. He viewed the Red Book of Hergest, which is owned by College and kept at the Bodleian Library. The book, one of the most important written in Welsh, is a compilation of chronicles, mythology, romances and court poetry. College Librarian Owen McKnight, who had the honour of showing His Royal Highness the book alongside Thomas Charles Edwards, Emeritus Professor of Celtic, said, “The Red Book of Hergest was written shortly after 1382 and is one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. The Prince was shown a page that details the herbal remedies of the legendary Physicians of Myddfai.”
Professor Thomas Charles Edwards, Emeritus Professor of Celtic (left) with College Librarian Owen McKnight and new Chair of Celtic Dr David Willis, standing in front of the Red Book of Hergest.
Principal Nigel Shadbolt said, “It is a huge privilege to welcome back His Royal Highness to Jesus College to join us in marking the appointment of our new Chair of Celtic and our schools access programmes in Wales. His support for Wales and the people of Wales reflects our own passion for creating a College community that celebrates Welsh culture through its research, activities and people. We also share his values around sustainability and the environment, which echo the views and concerns of our Fellows and students.”
His Royal Highness meets members of the College choir
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