Wrexham has become the seventh city in Wales after securing the prestigious status through a competition run as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The official ‘Letter Patent’ confirms the award from today, September 1, meaning Wrexham is now part of an exclusive club which already features Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bangor, St Davids and St Asaph.
The competition to receive civic honours was last run 10 years ago to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, when St Asaph was bestowed with the honour. A decade later it's Wrexham's turn, an award that feels all the sweeter given that three previous bids - made in 2000, 2002 and 2012 - proved unsuccessful.
But with city status now official, many will be thankful that Wrexham Council’s executive board unanimously agreed last December to have another crack at securing the honour. The Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition required applicants to demonstrate how their unique communities and distinct local identity meant they deserved to be awarded city status.
Read more: Wrexham awarded city status as part of Queen's Platinum Jubilee
Wrexham was one of eight towns to be granted the royal honour earlier this year, with the likes of Colchester, Doncaster and Milton Keynes among the others. Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, said: “We have so much to celebrate in Wrexham.
"We have an amazing World Heritage Site, and incredible football club with incredible owners, and a rich and diverse arts and culture scene. We have strong links with our armed forces, world-class businesses and friends all over the world.
“But our greatest asset is our communities, and it’s the amazing passion, character and creativity of the people who live here that make Wrexham what it is. City status is a wonderful achievement and reflects the growing confidence and ambition we have in Wrexham."
Thanking everyone who supported the "ambitious city bid", Cllr Pritchard also expressed his gratitude to the Queen for granting an honour which has been met by "congratulations from supporters and friends all over the world". "This is a truly historic day," he added.
Wrexham Council is planning a month of weekend events throughout September to celebrate the new city:
Saturday, September 3
- Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the Borough to the Royal Welsh – starts at Llwyn Isaf at 11am.
Saturday, September 10
- Invited guest service at St Giles Church to celebrate city status at 12pm.
- Wrexham AFC vs Maidenhead Utd FC at The Racecourse stadium at 3pm.
- Live music from The Royston Club plus guests on Llwyn Isaf from 6pm.
Saturday, September 17
- Wrexham City Fun Day – activities throughout the city centre for all the family.
Saturday, September 24
- Wrexham Feast food festival at Waterworld car park from 10am (also Sunday, September 25)
- Wrexham AFC v Torquay United at the Racecourse at 3pm.
Secretary of State for Wales, Sir Robert Buckland, was effusive in his congratulations. “There is already much for Wrexham to be proud of and its future is equally exciting," he said.
“The city and surrounding area already has so much to offer – it’s home to the famous Wrexham Lager Brewery, the Unesco World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and a fantastic football club which is Wales’s oldest and one of the oldest in the world."
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