Admission of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford Lord Hague of Richmond

Resplendent in bright red robes, Lord William Hague of Richmond entered the Sheldonian Theatre through its magnificent main door at 11am on 19th February 2025.  He advanced through a sea of faces and medieval academic gowns to the centre of the University of Oxford’s great ceremonial hall. Directly beneath the University’s highest value, Truth, perched on her cloud in the middle of Robert Streater’s magnificent ceiling, he took his seat.
After much doffing of caps and several Latin formulae, Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey admitted Lord Hague to the degree of DCL (Doctor of Common Law) and presented him with the Keys to the University and the University Seals (pictured above).
As the choir of his college, Magdalen, struck up My soul, there is a country by Hubert Parry, the new Chancellor was disrobed of his red gown and re-robed in the Chancellor’s black and gold robe and gold-tasselled cap.  The V-C then pronounced the invocation ‘Domini Doctores, vosque Magistri Universitatis, habetis Cancellarium’ and to the sound of trumpets and resounding applause, vacated the Chancellor’s Throne so that Lord Hague could take his appointed place.  
The Public Orator addressed a welcoming oration from the Proctor’s box in Latin, briefly in Welsh, but mainly in English, wished Hague’s predecessor Lord Patten of Barnes a ‘Shabbat shalom’ and hoped for Lord Hague ‘all that is good, fortunate and auspicious’.  
The new Chancellor who, once appropriately gowned, appeared to grow in stature and to exude a commanding and authoritative presence, took the stand for the next 20 minutes.  His speech was by turns witty, inspiring and impressive. You can watch it here – (and the boots at the side of the screen to the left of his head belong to me!)
 https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-02-19-lord-hagues-chancellor-admission-speech
It was an unforgettable event, the first of its kind for 21 years and (we hope) will not occur again for another 10 years, the term of Lord Hague’s Chancellorship.  I felt immensely privileged to be present.