While King Charles has not visited Ormond, several members of his family have had contact with our college.
Prince Philip outside Ormond’s back gate.
While neither the late Queen nor King Charles have ever visited Ormond, Queen Elizabeth’s husband and father came to the University and met Ormondians. Prince Philip came closest to setting foot on campus when he attended a ceremony just outside Ormond’s back gates in 1956 to officially open new University athletics facilities.
While the late Queen’s father, then Duke of York, didn’t get as close to the College itself, he did meet Ormondians when he visited in 1927. Firstly, he was received by Chancellor Sir John MacFarland, who had been the founding Master of Ormond. The royal was also greeted by the Ormond’s Roman Brass Band.
After a ceremony to award the Duke an honorary degree, a crowd of students invited him to join in some unofficial festivities, which he did with cheerful good humour. He was then greeted by a parade of students in rustic costumes and taken around campus in an open carriage. This included stops for addresses by students representing various faculties and Colleges, including Ormond.
The Duke of York (left) with Chancellor of the University of Melbourne and founding Master of Ormond Sir John MacFarland.
The Ormond representative gave an affectionate speech that conferred several additional, fictional, honourary degrees on the Duke.
The queen’s father then attended a student function, during which he was ‘sworn in’ as a University of Melbourne fresher. He laughed through the entire proceedings, gave a witty and good-humoured impromptu speech and was cheered and serenaded with ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’
The entire visit may not have complied with protocol ot the royal itinerary, but this was an era of less rigid security and newspaper reports suggest the revelry was conducted with good humour and was well received. It remains the pinnacle of royal interaction with Ormondians en masse: subsequent visits were much more restrained.
Ormond student James Barnaby (on horse facing camera) amongst the crowd of students greeting the Duke of York in 1927.
Share your Ormond story
Every Ormondian has their own unique experience of College life, and their own story to tell. What Ormond moment stands out in your memory? Whether on the sporting field or the stage, in the JCR, Dining Hall or on Picken Lawn, share your favourite story of life at Ormond College.
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