CITY status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities.
The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a “city” and, until the 16th century, a town was recognised as a city by the English Crown if it had a diocesan cathedral within its limits.
Queen Elizabeth II last granted city status in 2002 to commemorate her Golden Jubilee with Preston, Newport, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry all being elevated from towns to cities.
Before that, city status was granted to Wolverhampton, Brighton and Inverness in 2000 to mark the new millennium, to St David’s and Armagh in 1994 and to Sunderland in 1992.
The Queen announced last year she was to award city status to one town in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
The six-month application period for city status opened on December 1 and the winners are expected to be announced in the first half of 2012.
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