Eight towns, from the capital of the Falkland Islands to Dunfermline in Scotland, have been given city status to mark the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Colchester, Doncaster and Milton Keynes in England, Bangor in Northern Ireland and Wrexham in Wales have also won the honour," the Cabinet Office said.
Stanley in the Falklands is the first UK overseas territory to be declared a city, and Douglas on the crown dependency of the Isle of Man has also received raised status.
They are some of the places that “make Britain great”, said the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Steve Barclay.
“What was clear to me during the process of assessing each application was the pride that people felt for their communities, local cultural heritage and the royal family," Mr Barclay said.
“As we celebrate Her Majesty the queen’s colossal contribution to society, I am thrilled that we are able to recognise some of the many places that make Britain great.
“It is also incredibly reflective of Her Majesty’s global outlook and years of international service that applicants from the overseas territories and crown dependencies have been selected as winners for the first time.”
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Queen Elizabeth wearing the Sri Lanka brooch. All photos: Getty Images / Royal Collection Trust, unless specified -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the New Zealand Silver Fern brooch. -
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Flame-Lily brooch. -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the Canadian Maple Leaf brooch. -
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Delhi Durbar necklace. -
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose after the Queen's Coronation on June 2, 1953, in Buckingham Palace. -
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Australian Wattle brooch. Photo: AFP / Royal Collection Trust -
Queen Elizabeth II wears the Diamond Diadem as she returns to Buckingham Palace after attending the State Opening of Parliament. PA
The new cities can expect a boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for people who live there, the Cabinet Office said.
Stanley’s sustainable practices and civic pride also helped it to seal its new status.
The award comes as the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, after Argentinian forces invaded on April 2, 1982, has seen residents come together to remember the sacrifices made in the conflict.
The anniversary includes celebrations and special events such as Peat Cutting Monday and the annual Stanley Sports Race Meeting, which includes horse racing and gymkhana events.
The Falkland Islands has been a regular place for royal visits for many years, starting with the late Prince Philip in 1957.
Prince William was sent to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in 2016.
Stanley’s top-quality fisheries management has been key to the long-term sustainability of the industry.
It is home to the Government Fisheries Departments, which has seen the development of a range of world leading bycatch mitigation measures.
Douglas is a cultural centre. The Royal Hall is home to annual concerts by the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, the Isle of Man Choral Society, and the Manx Last Night of the Proms.
It stages the annual Manx Music Festival and there is also an Isle of Man Film Festival and events that celebrate Gaelic culture.
The Queen is patron of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution that originates from Douglas. George IV was the original patron, before it became the RNLI under the patronage of Queen Victoria in 1854.
Douglas has also given its industrial quayside and town centre area an upgrade in a sweep of urban regeneration.
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Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. Here 'The National' looks back at each of the years the queen has been on the throne. All photos: Getty Images -
1952: A portrait of the queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. -
1953: The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave at the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, after the queen's coronation, on June 2. -
1954: The queen talking to an injured ex-serviceman during a visit to Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart, Australia. -
1955: Gen Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal, leaves Westminster Pier for Buckingham Palace by coach, with the queen. -
1956: The queen inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, at Kaduna Airport, Nigeria, during her Commonwealth tour. -
1957: The queen presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon. -
1958: The queen shares a joke while watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle, Hampshire. -
1959: US president Dwight D Eisenhower with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the queen, Prince Charles and John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland. -
1960: The queen and Prince Charles walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with their dogs, having returned by train from Sandringham after the Christmas holidays. -
1961: The queen and Prince Philip leave Manchester by train. -
1962: The queen attends the races at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey. -
1963: The queen waves to residents from the rear of an open top car in the town of Russell, during a Commonwealth visit to New Zealand. -
1964: The queen during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony in the chamber of the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster in London. -
1965: At the Tissisal Falls, where the Blue Nile begins, with Emperor Haile Selassie during a royal visit to Ethiopia. -
1966: The queen smiling after presenting England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London. -
1967: The queen meets actor Rex Harrison and his wife Rachel Roberts at the premiere of the film 'Dr Dolittle' at the Odeon Marble Arch, London. -
1968: The queen, Princess Margaret, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, riding at Ascot Racecourse. -
1969: The royal family at Windsor: Prince Edward, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew. -
1970: US president Richard Nixon and British prime minister Edward Heath meet the queen for lunch at Chequers. -
1971: Prince Charles takes part in a polo match in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward. -
1972: The queen and Prince Philip with the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, during a visit to Kenya. -
1973: Anne, the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips with the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their wedding. -
1974: The queen with the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London. -
1975: The queen greets the public while visiting Greenwich, London. -
1976: The queen looking relaxed standing next to her car. -
1977: The crowd cheers the queen in her gilded state coach during her silver jubilee procession. -
1978: The queen and Prince Philip are greeted by Native Canadians as they arrive by train during a tour of Canada. -
1979: The queen is met by president Julius Nyerere at Dar es Salaam airport, at the start of a three-day state visit to Tanzania. -
1980: On a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show, London. -
1981: The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, with the queen. -
1982: US president Ronald Reagan and the queen at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle. -
1983: The queen and Prince Philip are met by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and president Zail Singh at Palam Airport, New Delhi, during a Commonwealth tour of India. -
1984: Prince Charles is presented with an award by his mother, after a polo match at Smiths Lawn in Windsor. -
1985: The queen visits the University of Evora during a state visit to Portugal. -
1986: The queen and Li Xiannian, president of China, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during her visit to China. -
1987: The queen with Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor. -
1988: US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan chatting with the queen at Buckingham Palace. -
1989: The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pictured are Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. -
1990: The queen on a walkabout in Reykjavik, during a three-day state visit to Iceland. -
1991: England captain Will Carling introduces the queen to the England team before the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham. -
1992: The queen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin during an official tour of Germany. She is seen with President Richard Von Weizsaecker. -
1993: The queen walking through the crowds at Royal Ascot. -
1994: The queen, Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Princess Diana greeting well-wishers as they attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. -
1995: The queen at a banquet in Cape Town, South Africa, with president Nelson Mandela. -
1996: Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy as the queen smiles, after the 1996 UEFA European Championships Final against Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London. -
1997: The queen and Prince Philip view tributes from the public outside Buckingham Palace to Diana, Princess of Wales, after her funeral. -
1998: The queen shopping at the trade stands at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. -
1999: With British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair during the Millennium New Year celebrations in Greenwich, London. -
2000: The queen and Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi walk past the honour guard at the Piazza Di Siena in Rome. -
2001: The queen and other members of the royal family appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in London. -
2002: The queen and Prince Philip leave after a party for close friends and family at The Ritz hotel in London. The monarch was thanking them for making her golden jubilee year a success. -
2003: Russian President Vladimir Putin is accompanied by the queen during a procession at the start of his state visit in London. -
2004: The queen arrives in her horsedrawn carriage to attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. -
2005: Prince Charles and his bride, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose with their families and the queen at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony. -
2006: The queen smiles at the crowds in Windsor, during a walk in the town to celebrate her 80th Birthday. -
2007: A less-than-impressed queen raises her hand during a downpour as she stands with Prince Philip and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony. -
2008: The queen stands in the music room at Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas day message to the Commonwealth. -
2009: US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace. -
2010: The queen and Prince Philip wear 3D glasses to watch a demonstration, during a visit to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. -
2011: The queen and Prince Philip arrive to open the Sainsbury Laboratory for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden. -
2012: The queen makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London. -
2013: The queen and other members of the royal family leave Westminster Abbey in London, after the service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the queen there. -
2014: A smiling queen arrives for the opening of the Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks in London. -
2015: The queen signs a book during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland. -
2016: Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall. -
2017: The queen and Prince Charles attend the State Opening Of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London. -
2018: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and the queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. -
2019: The queen and US president Donald Trump arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. -
2020: Riding at Windsor. The queen has been in residence at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic. -
2021: The queen takes her seat at the funeral of Prince Philip, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Doncaster’s bid showed its community spirit and resilience after the floods in 2019, where locals rallied to provide relief.
It has more than 70 places of worship and its mosques and gurdwaras became pop-up vaccination centres during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was originally a Roman settlement and has an industrial heritage that is built on rail and coal.
Important locomotives including The Flying Scotsman and The Mallard were built there.
Horse racing fans will know Doncaster as the home of the classic St Leger, founded in 1776, which has been graced by various members of the royal family over the years.
Wrexham’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the region, which is a base for companies including JCB and Kellogg’s, as well as aerospace giants such as Magellan and Cytec, is to become home to the new National Football Museum of Wales.
Wrexham Football Club, founded in 1864, has the world’s oldest international ground and gained more attention last year when it was bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Dunfermline’s bid pointed out that its annual fireworks display attracts about 30,000 local people, while the Christmas light event packed the town centre with 10,000.
The new city’s most famous son is Andrew Carnegie, whose steel industry helped to build America.
His philanthropy started the world’s public library system, and he gave away the equivalent of $65 billion in today’s money.
Bangor, at the mouth of the Belfast Lough, became a key site for allied forces during the Second World War.
In May 1944, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Dwight D Eisenhower, gave a speech to 30,000 assembled troops in Bangor, shortly before ships left for Normandy and D-Day.
The Milton Keynes new town includes 27 conservation areas, 50 scheduled monuments, 1,100 listed buildings and 270 pieces of public art.
It has 84,500 citizens who are volunteers and the town also claims to have a higher per capita number of volunteers than any other UK city.
The Open University was established there in 1969.
Colchester is Britain’s first recorded settlement and its first capital. It has been a garrison town for the past 165 years, and for the past 21 years has been home to the 16 Air Assault Brigade, the UK’s rapid response force.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries described city status as “a huge accolade”.
“This competition showcases the best of Britain and the overseas territories, and will act as a lasting legacy of Her Majesty the queen’s platinum jubilee.”
The Cabinet Office said Perth, the Scottish town that was granted city status in 2012 as part of the queen’s diamond jubilee, has had its local economy grow by 12 per cent in the decade since.
“Being granted city status in the platinum jubilee year is a tremendous honour, made all the more significant as 2022 also marks the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands and reflects the tremendous transformation that has taken place in Stanley over the last 40 years,” said Richard Hyslop, UK Representative to the Falklands government.
The Isle of Man’s Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan, said: "Douglas being named as one of the eight city status winners, and leading the way for the crown dependencies, is a huge honour for the island and celebrates our unique mix of culture, history and heritage.
“The accolade is a marvellous way to mark our relationship with Her Majesty the queen, our lord of Mann, while celebrating the platinum jubilee.”
