Oxford City Council and the Oxford Mail have teamed up to create a photography exhibition to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The exhibition has opened at Oxford Town Hall and features photographs of the Her Majesty’s visits to Oxford and Oxfordshire during the 70 years of her reign.

The exhibition’s photography and copy has been provided to the city council by the Oxford Mail.

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Andrew Colley, editor of the Oxford Mail, said: “Memories of any royal visit last a lifetime and at the Oxford Mail we’re proud to have played a key part in documenting the historic moments during the Queen’s reign.

“We’re delighted to work alongside Oxford City Council to deliver this special exhibition and hope it is enjoyed by many across the city.”

Councillor James Fry, Lord Mayor of Oxford, said: “It is wonderful to have teamed up with the Oxford Mail to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and see her visits to the city marked in one exhibition.

“Oxford has been proud to host Her Majesty over the years, and it was she who elevated the status of the mayor of the city to Lord Mayor 63 years ago, a special honour.”

The Queen’s first official visit to Oxford took place in May 1948, when she was Elizabeth Windsor.

One of her first greetings was a surprise encounter with ‘Mr Testudo’ the tortoise who was the Oriel College boat club mascot.

Since then, she has visited Oxford several times, including to open the West Wing of the John Radcliffe Hospital in 2008 and Oxford Castle in 2006, and to mark the 550th anniversary of Magdalen College in 2008 and the 750th anniversary of University College in 1999.

The exhibition will be located in Oxford Town Hall, which is open between 9am and 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday and will run until early October.

The City Council will also be planting trees across Oxford, including to create a ‘Jubilee Avenue’, later in this year as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy project.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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