Royal Watch News

Big Ben's tower renamed Elizabeth Tower

Jun 27, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

The clock tower which holds Big Ben has been renamed in honour of Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

It follows a campaign, backed by most MPs and the three main party leaders, to rename it in recognition of the queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood began the campaign to have the building - which is officially known as St. Stephen's Tower and often referred to as The Clock Tower - renamed Elizabeth Tower.

The motion called on the House of Commons Commission to consider the change 'in recognition of Her Majesty's 60 years of unbroken public service on behalf of her country'.

Ellwood said previously: 'I can't think of a greater tribute for Parliament to bestow on Her Majesty than the naming of such a landmark as the Clock Tower.'

The change to the name of the iconic London clock would be similar to when the west tower of the Palace of Westminster was renamed the Victoria Tower from The King's tower in 1860 to commemorate the then-monarch, Queen Victoria's long reign.

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock though it is generally extended to refer to the tower as well.