Queen’s Royal College and the Legacy of Prestige Schools
- Annalisa Whitfield
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
When coming up Maraval Road around Queen’s Park Savannah, Queen’s Royal College is the first of the Magnificent Seven that you’ll see. It is notably one of the largest of the Seven, being the only one originally conceived as a public building instead of a private residence. Adding to its visual dominance on the street is the red colour covering the façade and the German Renaissance pastiche architecture – solid, symmetrical, and featuring a stately 93-foot central clock tower. Accompanying the grand façade is an even grander legacy. As far as ‘prestige’ schools go, Queen’s Royal College is a king amongst kings. But why in our post-colonial aspiring meritocracy does the reputation of colonial-era institutions hold so strong?
The History of 'Prestige' Schools in Trinidad
‘Prestige’ schools in Trinidad are those high-performing secondary schools that have a strong tradition and school culture stemming from their early establishment in the country, most of them under the British colonial government. They tend to be denominational schools that are now 'government-assisted' but in their earliest days were privately run exclusively by the religious organisations that started them.
A prime example of this is Trinidad’s oldest secondary school, St. Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain. Locally referred to simply as ‘Convent’, this all-girls Roman Catholic school was established in 1836 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. The Sisters would also go on to establish St. Joseph's Convent, St. Joseph in 1870.
Another example is QRC’s long-time rivals, St. Mary’s College or CIC (College of the Immaculate Conception), a Catholic boys’ school in Port of Spain, founded by the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) in 1863.
The Foundations of Queen's Royal College
It is Queen’s Royal College, though, that holds the distinction among these 'prestige' schools of both being the oldest surviving boys’ secondary school in the country and being a non-denominational outlier. Dating its history back to 1859 with its direct predecessor Queen’s Collegiate School (QCS), only one other boys’ secondary school existed before it, the ill-fated St. George's College in Port of Spain that would suffer an early collapse.
By special permission of Queen Victoria in 1870 to the Legislative Council, Queen’s Collegiate School would be officially renamed The Royal College of Trinidad, also being known at the time as Queen’s Royal College. It would officially go by Queen’s Royal College from 1909. In these days, much of the teaching staff consisted of Cambridge and Oxford-educated English nationals and final-year students would sit Cambridge O Level examinations instead of the current CSEC exams, which took over in the late 1970s.
Along with name changes, the school also had a few location changes. The boys' school took up occupancy in other buildings not exclusive to its school before finally settling in its current Queen’s Park location. The 1904 completion of its own school building, designed by architect and QRC alumnus Daniel Meinerts Hahn, was an important milestone in the history of the school. The German Renaissance design of the QRC building was reportedly inspired by Hahn’s time studying in Germany. Hahn also served as Chief Draughtsman of the Public Works Department and is noted for designing The Red House after the 1903 fire and The Royal Victoria Institute.
The Legacy of Queen's Royal College
Academic performance and British colonial heritage aside, the distinguished alumni of the institution also add to its strong legacy. Queen’s Royal College boasts graduates such as Father of the Nation, the Honourable Dr. Eric Williams, Marxist intellectual and famed writer C. L. R. James, esteemed novelist V. S. Naipaul, recognised contemporary painter Boscoe Holder, and many, many more politicians, writers, businessmen, artists, and athletes of local and international repute. The legacy of the school is also preserved and displayed by QRC’s Old Boys’ Association, established in 1934 and consisting of alumni of the school. The Association serves the College in an administrative capacity and actively participates in the school’s continued development.
In Trinidad, education is regarded as the great leveler of the playing field, rewarding the best and brightest regardless of creed, race, or circumstance. This is the ideal the nation has strived for in its post-independence life, and despite the colonial heritage of most 'prestige' schools, these educational institutions represent the nation’s post-colonial ideals. Certant Omnes Sed Non Omnibus Palma –the Latin motto of Queen’s Royal College reminds us that, “It is the effort that really counts even though only one may win the prize.” The motto brings to mind the national watchwords, 'Discipline, Production, and Tolerance'. It is also by these same post-colonial values, however, that critics say we should abolish the idea of 'prestige' schools, as high-performance and quality education are no longer the exclusive domain of these institutions. Regardless, this member of the Magnificent Seven remains evocative.
Queen's Royal College Main Building © 2025 Annalisa Whitfield. All Rights Reserved.
Sources
A Magnificent Nine: Historical Facts on Nine Buildings in Trinidad and Tobago (1976), published by the Public Relations Division, Office of the Prime Minister, Trinidad and Tobago
The Making of Port-of-Spain: The History of Port-of-Spain Volume 1 1757-1939, Second Edition (2007) by Michael Anthony
Guidelines of Queen's Royal College Student Booklet (2021)
Early history of the Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association, article on the Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association website
Queen's Royal College (Main Block), entry on The National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago website
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