The Princess Royal will receive the City Lit Centenary Fellowship Award this April at the City Lit Centenary Awards.
“The Princess Royal will receive her Centenary Fellowship in recognition of her ongoing commitment to lifelong learning,” says Mark Malcolmson, CBE of City Lit.
The City Lit Centenary Awards are being held on 2 April to recognise those who foster educational opportunities for adults, including tutors who teach everything from anthropology to British Sign Language.
Princess Anne will meet tutors and students at the awards ceremony, and will present awards at the ceremony in addition to receiving her own.
The Queen’s daughter said: “I have had the pleasure of visiting City Lit a number of times to meet its inspirational learners and tutors, as well as welcoming City Lit students to Buckingham Palace as National Learning Ambassadors.
“It is particularly encouraging to see how people of all ages and backgrounds come together at City Lit to challenge themselves and transform their lives.”
Princess Anne continued, “If education can be defined as ‘training for life,’ then lifelong learning and its ability to unlock potential throughout people’s lives should be accepted as part of life.
“I am honoured to receive the City Lit Centenary Fellowship.”
City Lit was founded in 1919 as a way to help students who “seek an education other than vocational with ‘a coherent programme of studies related to leisure, and an adult setting,’” per City Lit’s official website.
The college offers 5,000 courses each year to 60,000 enrolled students, and is noted for having “adapted and innovated to meet London’s changing needs, providing more than just adult education courses” by helping students “challenge themselves and unlock their potential in boosting confidence and giving their creative sides a chance to grow.”
City Lit has a number of special events planned for its centenary year in addition to the Centenary Awards.
In September, London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, will officially open the college’s new Gallery and Exhibition space.