Three areas of the south trying to become cities
Which places are vying for the title?
Last updated 23rd Dec 2021
Three areas of the south are in the running to be granted city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Bournemouth, Newport and Carisbrooke, and Dorchester will face competition from places as far away as the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and the Falklands.
As part of their bids, applicants were asked to talk about the distinct identity and community which they feel means their area deserves to become a city, as well as evidence of links to royalty.
Unlike previous civic honours competitions, an expert panel will work closely with ministers to make their recommendations, which will then be approved by the Queen.
The final decision will be taken in spring 2022 and announced shortly afterwards.
Here are the places that applied for city status:
England
Alcester, Warwickshire
Blackburn, Lancashire
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Boston, Lincolnshire
Bournemouth, Dorset
Colchester, Essex
Crawley, West Sussex
Crewe, Cheshire
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Dorchester, Dorset
Dudley, West Midlands
Goole, East Yorkshire
Guildford, Surrey
Marazion, Cornwall
Medway, Kent
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Newport and Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
Northampton, Northamptonshire
Reading, Berkshire
Warrington, Cheshire
Warwick, Warwickshire
Wales
Wrexham, Clwyd
Scotland
Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
Dunfermline, Fife
Elgin, Moray
Greenock, Renfrewshire
Livingston, West Lothian
Oban, Argyll and Bute
St Andrews, Fife
South Ayrshire, Ayrshire and Arran
Northern Ireland
Ballymena, County Antrim
Bangor, County Down
Coleraine, County Londonderry
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
Douglas, Isle of Man
George Town, Cayman Islands
Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Peel, Isle of Man
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay said it is "fitting" that the competition is extended to "include those parts of the world" which hold the Queen "so dearly".
He said: "Today's announcement is a celebration of the rich and diverse communities which make up not only the United Kingdom, but also our friends further afield in the Falklands, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands.
"It's fitting that, as we look towards celebrating the 70-year reign of Her Majesty the Queen, we extend the competition to include those parts of the world which also hold her so dearly.
"City status is not only about local pride, it can deliver real levelling up benefits for businesses and the local area which is clear from the high number of applications. A sincere best of luck to all those who have applied."