Historic moment as St Andrews installs new Chancellor

The University marked a historic milestone today (Wednesday 1 July 2026) as Dame Anne Pringle was formally installed as Chancellor during this afternoon’s graduation ceremony in Younger Hall.

Dame Anne becomes the first woman to hold the office in the University’s more than 600-year history. The role of Chancellor, one of the University’s most senior ceremonial positions, dates back centuries and has long been central to its governance and traditions, including the formal conferring of degrees.

A distinguished diplomat and St Andrews alumna, Dame Anne was elected earlier this year following a vote by staff, students and graduates. As Chancellor, she will play a leading role in presiding over degree ceremonies, acting as an ambassador for the University, and strengthening its connections with a global community of alumni, partners and supporters.

Speaking during the installation ceremony, Dame Anne said:

“Like many of you, I feel a deep connection to St Andrews – to its spirit, its traditions and its enduring sense of purpose. I first came here as a child on family holidays, studied here in the 1970s and, later, at the end of my diplomatic career, returned to serve on the University Court. To stand here now as Chancellor feels like a deeply privileged homecoming.”

The installation took place at the heart of the University’s summer graduation week, which brings together more than 2,200 students, their families and guests from around the world for one of the year’s most significant academic events.

Today’s ceremony reflected both the University’s long-standing traditions and its growing global reach.

The Chancellor closed the installation ceremony with words of advice for new graduates:

“Protect your character more fiercely than your CV. Value real human connection in a world of constant distraction. Be ambitious, but remain kind. And ask yourself not only what future you hope to find, but what role you will play in shaping it.

“And when things do not go to plan – and let me reassure you, that happens quite often, remember that uncertainty is not failure. More often than not, it is where growth begins.”