Bangor receives city status in Princess Anne visit

Bangor in County Down has formally received city status in a ceremony attended by the Princess Royal.

The ceremony took place at Bangor Castle with Princess Anne unveiling the city's official warrant.

City status was granted by Queen Elizabeth II to mark her platinum jubilee, three months before her death in September.

Bangor is now one of six cities in Northern Ireland, along with Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Lisburn and Newry.

Princess Anne said it was "always a pleasure" to visit Bangor, reminiscing on her previous trips in 2013 and 2016.

The official letters patent for Bangor reads that the area will "have all such rank liberties, privileges and immunities as are incident to a city"

She spoke about Bangor's historical importance as a centre of learning, noting its appearance on the medieval Hereford Mappa Mundi as "civitas benair" (city of Bangor).

"I can only apologise for taking so long to make sure that in fact you are now properly a city in 2022," she said.

The princess praised recent investment in the area, adding that she hoped city-status "provides a real boost to these exciting plans".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was also at the event, which was hosted by Ards and North Down Mayor Karen Douglas.

Mr Heaton-Harris said he hoped city-status would attract visitors and boost the economy.

Princess Anne was joined by Chris Heaton-Harris and Ards and North Down Mayor Karen Douglas as she unveiled the city's royal warrant

Bangor was one of eight UK towns elevated to a city in May after a competition in which it was required to show its royal associations and cultural heritage.

Its application pointed out that in 1961 the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Bangor Castle and had lunch at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, before the duke raced in a regatta.

City status is often associated with having a cathedral, a university, or a large population.

However, there are no set rules for being granted the status, which is awarded by the monarch on advice of ministers.

Twenty years ago, Lisburn and Newry were awarded city status in a competition to mark the Queen's golden jubilee.

The coastal town has been popular with day-trippers for decades

In the 2011 census the population of Bangor was just over 60,000.

It is situated beside the coast, at the mouth of Belfast Lough.

A number of famous faces come from Bangor, including the lead singer of Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, author Colin Bateman, golfer David Feherty and artist Colin Davidson.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Lord David Trimble, who died earlier this year, spent much of his early life in the town, attending Bangor Grammar, one of 19 schools in the area.

In the past it was a seaside resort which was popular with day trippers and tourists who gathered on the beach in front of the town.

In the late 1980s a marina was built, transforming the seafront.

Artist Colin Davidson is one of the famous faces from Bangor

Like many places it has been hit hard by the building of shopping centres on the outskirts of the central district.

There are plans in place to try to rejuvenate Bangor, with the hope that its new city status will help.

The city's courthouse was recently turned into a music venue, and other projects are in the pipeline.

Bangor's road signs will not change immediately to reflect its new status as a city - they will continue to refer to "town centre".

"Officials are content to liaise with Ards and North Down Borough Council representatives to consider a possible phased renewal of signs in conjunction with any replacement of signs the council is responsible for," said the Department for Infrastructure.