Glasgow's love for Queen who named it 'second city of the empire'

The monarch was present at some of Glasgow’s the most significant moments while the city, for its part, marked with great ceremony many milestones of Victoria’s long reign.

The Queen made her first visit to the city in 1849. She was the first reigning monarch to do so since James VI toured Scotland in 1617. Her Majesty was accompanied by her husband, Prince Albert, and their four eldest children.

Queen Victoria (Image: Newsquest)

They travelled on the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, escorted by a large navy squadron.  It arrived in the Clyde on August 13, from Ireland.  They steamed to Arrochar, to view the scenery of Loch Long and Loch Lomond, berthing at Rosneath Bay for the night.

The next morning, they boarded the royal steam tender, the Fairie, and sailed up the river to the Broomielaw. They transferred to carriages and made their way through the streets of the city.

Queen Victoria landing at Glasgow Harbour (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

A vast crowd, estimated at 400,000, congregated along the routes to see the Queen pass by and welcomed the royal party with shouts of joy.   

They visited Glasgow University on the High Street and had a tour of the cathedral.  While expressing their admiration for the ancient building, the royal party were most excited to see the crypts, which featured in Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Rob Roy.

Water pollution, the 1848 cholera outbreak and the urgent need for a larger supply of water for the city’s growing population and industry led Glasgow Corporation to seek a solution for its desperate public health problems.  In 1855 an Act of Parliament approved a project to build a pipeline to carry water from Loch Katrine in the Trossachs to the city.

Loch Katrine waterworks (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

On October 14, 1859, the Queen, invited by the Corporation, did the city the honour of going to Loch Katrine, and, at the inlet of the aqueduct, turning on “the most bountiful supply of purest water.”

On June 16, 1887, Glasgow marked the golden jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. The occasion was celebrated throughout the city with a military review on Glasgow Green, attended by 50,000 people, and a special service at Glasgow Cathedral.

The day was declared a public holiday, streets were decorated with bunting and flags, concerts were held in the city's parks and the Lord Provost held a banquet in the McLellan Galleries on Sauchiehall Street.

The main event of the evening was a reception and ball at the St Andrew's Halls which was also hosted by the Lord Provost. Dinners were served to 6000 of the city's "deserving poor" in halls around the city.

In August 1888 Queen Victoria attended the International Exhibition at Kelvingrove Park and inaugurated the new City Chambers. This was her first visit to the city itself since 1849.

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Huge crowds lined the route of the royal procession to Kelvingrove Park. The Queen sat on a throne in the grand hall to receive addresses and professions of loyalty. She spoke complimentarily about Glasgow and its exhibition, then toured the exhibition, paying particular attention to the Women's Industries Section. She paid a private visit to the exhibition on August 24, when she visited other areas, purchased souvenirs and expressed satisfaction with her visit.

This visit luckily coincided with the completion of Glasgow’s new municipal buildings, so the Queen was able to inaugurate the City Chambers during the same trip.

The imposing western façade on George Square is dominated by its sculptured pediment, changed to mark the Queen’s jubilee of 1887. The new design featured an enthroned Queen Victoria, gazing west across the city.

On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria died. Glasgow marked the day of her funeral with a procession from the City Chambers to Glasgow Cathedral, where a large memorial service was held. Representatives of all the city's major institutions walked in the procession, and crowds of onlookers lined the route.

Shops and other businesses closed for the day, and the main streets remained draped with black and imperial purple during the period of national mourning.