Kingston
Nub News Logo
Nub News

Why is Kingston a Royal Borough?

By The Editor   3rd Feb 2021

A painting of what King Athelstan may have looked like
A painting of what King Athelstan may have looked like

Kingston upon Thames is a royal borough - but do you know why?

Here at Nub News we've had a look into why our area is the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

There are four boroughs with royal status in the South East - Kingston, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea in London plus Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire (which happens to be a royal county too).

Kingston first gained royal borough status back in 1927 when the town was still in Surrey (lets not get back into that debate).

The status was maintained when Kingston became part of Greater London in the 1960s.

So why? Well you have to look back over one thousand years as Kingston is the country's oldest royal borough.

King Athelstan was coronated in the town back in 925 and designated the area royal borough status.

A number of other Saxon Kings have also been coronated in Kingston.

These are: Edward the Elder in 900 AD, Athelstan in 925 AD, Edmund in 939 AD, Eadred in 946 AD, Eadwig in 956 AD, Edward the Martyr in 975 AD and Ethelred the Unready in 979 AD.

So back in 1927 Kingston Council petitioned King George V to formalise this royal borough status - with their request granted.

     

CHECK OUT OUR Jobs Section HERE!
kingston vacancies updated hourly!
Click here to see more: kingston jobs

     

Can we count on you? Local news is the heartbeat of Kingston
— it needs your support.

For less than the price of a cup of coffee each month,
you can help us keep telling the stories that matter to Kingston.
Support local journalism. Protect your community.

Thank you to those of you that have already contributed.
Monthly supporters will enjoy:
Ad-free experience

Share:


Sign-up for our FREE newsletter...

We want to provide kingston with more and more clickbait-free news.

     

...or become a Supporter.
Kingston. Your Town. Your News.

Local news is essential for our community — but it needs your support.
Your donation makes a real difference.
For monthly donators:
Ad-free experience