Andrew given food for thought as city hails landmark 800th anniversary

THE Duke of York visited the city to mark the 800th anniversary since it was granted a Royal Charter in a move heralded as its equivalent of the Magna Carta.

The Duke was in York yesterday to celebrate the landmark. The city was granted the charter by King John on July 9, 1212.

During his visit, the Duke was given a tour of the set which is under construction in the city’s Museum Gardens, where the York Mystery Plays will be performed next month.

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He also went to St Sampson’s Square for the York 800 cake giveaway at which residents and visitors enjoyed cup cakes made by York College students with tea supplied by staff from Bettys tearooms.

York Council leader Coun James Alexander said: “In return for paying the King £160 a year in ‘rent’, the people of York were able to elect their own officials, collect their own taxes and, most importantly, have a say in how the city was run.

“It is hard to imagine how different life would have been if York hadn’t received the charter – it is the city’s equivalent to the Magna Carta.”

The anniversary was marked by three days of celebrations, although a flotilla and dragon boat race on the River Ouse at the weekend had to be postponed owing to the high water levels.

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