King Praises Leeds 400th Anniversary Celebrations
July 13, 2026Royal recognition for Leeds marking 400 years since its Royal Charter
Leeds has received formal congratulations from His Majesty The King as the city commemorates the 400th anniversary of receiving its Royal Charter. The milestone was marked with a series of events throughout the year, celebrating Leeds’ history and looking ahead to its future development.
Royal letter highlights Leeds’ heritage and community spirit
In a letter addressed to the people of Leeds, The King expressed his congratulations on the occasion of the city’s 400th anniversary of its Royal Charter, originally granted by King Charles I on 13 July 1626. The letter acknowledged Leeds as an important industrial, creative, and cultural centre in England, noting its historic achievements such as having the oldest working railway and being the location for the filming of the first motion picture.
The King also reflected on his visit to Leeds in 2022, praising the “clever, hard-working and generous” people he met and the civic pride displayed by the city’s residents. He expressed optimism for Leeds’ future and extended his warmest wishes for the anniversary celebrations.
Anniversary service and civic response
The letter was publicly read by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE, during a service held at Leeds Minster. The event was attended by local dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Stephen Holroyd, former Leeds Rhinos player Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and representatives from Leeds United football club.
Councillor Holroyd described the royal correspondence as a significant honour for the city and highlighted the importance of civic pride in the Leeds 400 celebrations. He thanked The King for his message and congratulated the city on marking the occasion in a manner befitting its heritage.
Leeds 400 celebrations and future ambitions
The Leeds 400 events have taken place across the city to commemorate the granting of the Royal Charter, which established Leeds as a “free borough” and laid the foundation for its modern governance and development.
Alongside reflecting on its history, Leeds is focusing on its future through the Leeds Ambitions initiative, which sets out four priorities aimed at making the city healthy, growing, thriving, and resilient. These ambitions seek to reduce poverty and inequality and improve the quality of life for residents over the coming decade.
Councillor Salma Arif, executive member for economy at Leeds City Council, noted that the celebrations have united the city and provided an opportunity for communities to showcase what they value about Leeds. She welcomed the royal recognition as a testament to the dedication of those involved in the year-long programme.
Further information
Details about Leeds 400 and the associated events can be found on the city’s cultural programmes website: Welcome to Leeds 400 – A Year of Celebration.
