The Princess Royal opens new Student Learning Centre at the RVC
Today, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Student Learning Centre, which has been specially designed to support its excellence in teaching, learning and research and will help shape the next generation of veterinary and biomedical science professionals.
The new three-storey development is located at the RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Hertfordshire and offers innovative, state-of-the-art amenities for students and staff.
During the visit, The Princess Royal enjoyed a tour of the new facilities. This included the new Research Laboratories, Student Laboratories, teaching rooms and 400-seat lecture theatre, as well as social learning areas.
Throughout the tour, Her Royal Highness met with academics and students, hearing more about the RVC’s world-leading research in a range of disciplines, from stem cell therapy for horses to vaccine developments for zoonotic diseases.
Commemorating the opening of the facilities, Her Royal Highness attended a reception to mark the occasion and unveiled a plaque. The Princess Royal also spent time speaking with current students, staff and guests.
The reception provided an opportunity to recognise those whose support helped make the new facilities a reality. Their commitment to the RVC has been instrumental in enhancing the university’s teaching, research and student experience, and in supporting the future leaders in the veterinary science and biosciences fields.
Also in attendance at the milestone event were Mr Robert Voss, Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire; Professor David Latchman, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of London; Nicholas Buxton, High Sheriff; Lord Ajay Kakkar, Chair of RVC Council; Baroness Young of Old Scone, Former Chair of RVC Council; and Professor Christianne Glossop, Chair of the RVC Animal Care Trust. Representatives from Hertfordshire County Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council also enjoyed the occasion.
Professor Stuart Reid, President & Principal of the RVC, said:
“It is my pleasure to welcome The Princess Royal to our campus to open our newest facilities. With the student experience at the heart of the Centre and as a knowledge-led institution, this investment ensures that we can continue to develop the thought leaders of tomorrow, whatever their intended career destination. We value the support of our Chancellor as we strive to address society’s needs in animal and human health.”
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal last visited the RVC in 2023 to re-open the Hobday Building, focused on teaching and learning spaces, at its Camden Campus.
The RVC is the UK’s largest and longest-established independent veterinary school in the English-speaking world and a Member Institution of the University of London. A global leader in veterinary and biological sciences education, research and clinical care, it was ranked the world’s top veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The RVC offers a broad range of undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes, delivers expert care through its teaching hospitals and referral centres, including Europe’s largest small animal hospital, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, and has 88% of its research rated internationally excellent or world-class (REF 2021).
Notes to Editors
For more information, please contact:
The RVC’s press team, 0800 368 9520 / rvc@plmr.co.uk
Emily Sherwin, Communications Assistant, 07515 608366 / emily.sherwin@royal.uk
About the RVC
- The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
- It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA in the USA and Canada.
- The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025.
- The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
- The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
- The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.
