A Valentine Series postcard showing the visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on 27th September 1906. The royals visited Aberdeen to celebrate the quatercentenary of the University of Aberdeen and to officially open the completed extensions of Marischal College.

The King and Queen arrived and left Aberdeen by train using Holburn Street Station. This image looks south and shows the railway bridge over Holburn Street itself. The station was located to the east of this bridge (left of this image).

The arrival of the royals was received with a 21-gun salute from the 1st Aberdeen R.G.A. (Volunteers) and large groups of dignitaries and the public.

This postcard appears to show the King and Queen entering their waiting horse drawn carriage. The royals are thought to be the figures shown to the left of the carriage.

As part of the Marischal College opening ceremony, the King received a gold key. The visit and ceremony are detailed in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 28th September 1906, pages 6-7.

During the visit, the royal carriage passed through many Aberdeen streets including: Holburn Street, Forest Avenue, Summer Street, Queen's Cross, and more.

Marischal College was originally founded in 1593 by George Keith, one of two universities in Aberdeen until it merged with King's College in 1860. The current building was contracted from 1837-1906, and the Royal Family was brought to celebrate the opening.

The postcard was sent on 24th December 1906 to a Miss Jane Angus from Milltimber, using a King Edward VII half penny stamp.

Location

Holburn Station

Keyword

Royal Family

Photographer