Opening of the New Buildings of the City of London School by the Prince and Princess of Wales, December 12, 1882 1882

This bronze medal by Joseph Shepherd Wyon commemorates the opening of the new City of London School buildings by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1882. Medals like this one served to document and celebrate significant events, but also to disseminate carefully crafted images of power. The profiles of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and his wife Alexandra are rendered in high relief, literally elevating them above the surface. Their regal bearing and idealized features project an image of stability and authority, crucial for the British monarchy during a time of immense social and political change. The City of London School, founded on humanist principles, aimed to provide education to boys of all classes. The presence of the Prince and Princess at its opening underscored the monarchy's supposed commitment to education and social progress, but also reinforced existing hierarchies. To fully understand the medal, one might explore archival documents detailing the school's history, royal ceremonies, and the artist's commissions. The medal, therefore, is less a neutral record and more a carefully constructed statement about the social order in late 19th century Britain.