Diamond Jubilee civic honours competition launch
A competition to create a new city to mark聽HM 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee in 2012 was launched today
Details of the competition were unveiled by , Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, who invited聽local authorities across the United Kingdom to apply.
Existing cities can also bid for the award of a Lord Mayoralty or, in Scotland, a Lord Provostship.
皇冠体育app two awards - known as 鈥榗ivic honours鈥� -聽are rare marks of distinction which are sparingly granted.聽皇冠体育appy聽will be made in honour of the .
Civic honours were last awarded in 2002, to mark the Golden Jubilee, when Preston, Stirling, Newport, Lisburn and Newry were awarded city status, and Exeter was awarded a Lord Mayoralty. In 2012, just one聽award of city status and one award of Lord Mayoralty聽is expected to be made. 聽
Lasting legacy
鈥淢arking Her Majesty鈥檚 60 years on the throne in 2012 will be a great opportunity for the nation to come together in celebration, just as it did for her Silver and Golden Jubilees,鈥� said聽, Secretary of State for Culture. 鈥淭his competition will be an important part of this and will ensure that there is a lasting legacy that will remain long after the festivities are over. I look forward to hearing who鈥檚 won.鈥�
Local authorities should follow , published today, when submitting their applications.聽皇冠体育app results of the compteition will be announced in the first half of 2012.聽