Oxford University students vote to take down portrait of the Queen because she ‘represents colonial history’

A portrait of the Queen has been removed by students at a UK university, sparking outrage from the government which branded the move “absurd”.

Britain’s Education Secretary has blasted an “absurd” move by students at Oxford University to remove a portrait of the Queen from a common room because she “represents recent colonial history”.

A committee of graduate students from Magdalen College’s Middle Common Room voted overwhelmingly to take down the picture of Queen Elizabeth, the Guido Fawkes website first revealed on Tuesday.

The students agreed to explore replacing the portrait with “art by or of other influential and inspirational people”, and that any future depictions of the Queen or the royal family would be subject to a committee vote.

According to minutes of the committee meeting provided to Guido Fawkes, one student claimed “patriotism and colonialism are not really separable” while another denied it was about “cancelling” the Queen but rather “this is about our communal space and making people feel welcome”.

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, dressed for a formal occasion.

Opponents of the move warned it was “worth considering the reputational damage that this motion would have if passed, not only for our common room and College, but for Oxford students more generally”.

“In an era where debates on no-platforming and cancel culture rage strong, effectively ‘cancelling’ the Queen and brandishing her a symbol of colonialism – so often used as a synonym for racism – sends a dire message that is sure to enrage,” they said.

“Moreover, it is culturally insensitive for a common room so heavily comprised of international students to seek to remove a national symbol from a British institution. The cultural heritage of all nations has the right to be respected, and a common room that does not do so cannot claim to be inclusive.”

Oxford University students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd. She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity & respect around the world

— Gavin Williamson (@GavinWilliamson) June 8, 2021

The students ultimately voted in favour of removing the portrait, agreeing that “for some students depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history”.

British Education Secretary Gavin Williamson responded to the news on Twitter and wrote, “Oxford University students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd.

“She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.”

Oxford University’s Magdalen College, founded in 1458.

Magdalen College president Dinah Rose also took to Twitter to distance the 563-year-old institution from the controversy.

Ms Rose, a barrister, noted that the students involved did not “represent the college” but that it strongly supported “free speech and political debate”.

“Here are some facts about Magdalen College and HM the Queen,” she wrote.

“The Middle Common Room is an organisation of graduate students. They don’t represent the College. A few years ago, in about 2013, they bought a print of a photo of the Queen to decorate their common room.”

They recently voted to take it down.
Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the College's.
Magdalen strongly supports free speech and political debate, and the MCR'S right to autonomy.

— Dinah Rose (@DinahRoseQC) June 8, 2021

She continued, “They recently voted to take it down. Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the College’s. Magdalen strongly supports free speech and political debate, and the MCR’S right to autonomy.”

Ms Rose said the students may vote to put the portrait up again, or they may not, but in the meantime it would be “safely stored”.

She concluded with a jab at the outrage from “the older generation”.

“Being a student is about more than studying,” she said. “It’s about exploring and debating ideas. It’s sometimes about provoking the older generation. Looks like that isn’t so hard to do these days.”

Protesters march to Oxford University’s Oriel College. Picture: Laurel Chor/Getty Images

The latest controversy comes after another UK university apologised for sending staff a photo of the Queen’s husband Prince Philip after the 99-year-old’s death in April.

King’s College London sent an email bulletin featuring a photo of Prince Philip opening its library, sparking complaints from some staff about the Duke of Edinburgh’s “history of racist and sexist comments”, the Daily Mail reported.

After weeks of tensions, Joleen Clarke, the associate director at King’s College libraries, last month issued an apology for the “harm” caused by the photo.

“The picture was included as a historical reference point following his death,” she wrote. “The inclusion of the picture was not intended to commemorate him.

“Through feedback and subsequent conversations, we have come to realise the harm that this caused members of our community, because of his history of racist and sexist comments. We are sorry to have caused this harm.”

Oxford University’s Oriel College has also been targeted by Black Lives Matter protesters in recent months calling for the removal of a statue of 19th-century imperialist and businessman Cecil Rhodes.

Oriel College initially agreed to take down the statue but last month changed its mind, citing the “complex” planning process.

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