Foundation Day is the annual celebration of the grant by William IV of the University’s first charter on 28 November 1836.
The University presented its first honorary degrees in June 1903. Among the recipients were the Prince of Wales (LLD) and the Princess of Wales (DMus), later King George V and Queen Mary.
Since then, this accolade has been bestowed on a wide range of distinguished individuals from both the academic and non-academic worlds. Their names are recorded in the Register of Honorary Degrees. Among the list of famous signatures is Winston Churchill, Judi Dench, T S Eliot, Margot Fonteyn and Henry Moore.
Honorary degrees are approved by the Collegiate Council as set out in Regulation 2, part of the University’s governance structure.
The presentation of a small number of honorary degrees is now an annual event held in the Autumn term. The evening ceremony is held in Senate House and is presided over by the Chancellor of the University, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Foundation Day 2009 took place on Wednesday 25 November. Honorary degrees were conferred on the following eminent individuals:
Doctor of Science (Medicine) 
[PDF 2pgs, 18KB] by Professor Peter Kopelman, Principal, St George’s, University of London Doctor of Science (Economics) [PDF 2pgs, 15KB] by Professor Mary Morgan, Professor of the History of Economics, The London School of Economics and Political Science [2pgs, 37KB] Doctor of Science [PDF 3pgs, 18KB] by Professor David Latchman, Master, Birkbeck, University of London Doctor of Literature [PDF 3pgs, 19KB] by Professor Gavin Henderson CBE, Principal, The Central School of Speech and Drama Doctor of Literature [PDF 2pgs, 19KB] by Professor Geoffrey Crossick, Warden, Goldsmiths, University of LondonView a selection of photos from the evening and order some for yourself.