Royal Watch News

Big Ben clock tower renamed The Elizabeth Tower

Sep 13, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

The clock tower that houses Big Ben has been renamed The Elizabeth Tower in tribute to Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

London's historic landmark had it's name changed in a formal ceremony yesterday (12.09.12) after the Daily Mail newspaper's campaign to rename it was backed by a majority of MPs.

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow described it as a 'special and heart-warming' occasion which is said to have delighted the queen.

He added: 'Everyone here present will speedily recall that Her Majesty the Queen has visited Parliament on no fewer than three occasions in this, a very special year, and it is a mark and symbol of the enormous affection and esteem in which Her Majesty is held by people of all political persuasions and none that this renaming has taken place.'

This move mirrors a tribute to the only other monarch to remain on the throne for 60 years - Queen Victoria. Her tower at the end of the Palace of Westminster, along with Elizabeth's, will now forever carry their names.

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who collected supporting names including David Cameron and Ed Miliband, told the Daily Mail newspaper that she is 'one of the most respected public figures in the world' and reminds British people of who they are.