British overseas cities

British overseas cities on British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are remaining key places of the former far-reaching British Empire, which was a vast holding of many regions, countries, protectorates and territories. A number of notable settlements within England and constituent countries of the grouping from the medieval period onwards were granted city status by British monarchs. This is a honorific title only which grants no additional civic privileges, but it could confer a sense of increased local pride, additional prestige along with international notability and recognition to an area.

Primarily from the 20th century many territories gained independence, and this caused a reduction in the number of cities remaining within the Empire. These overseas lands did not form part of the modern United Kingdom except for Ireland, and later Northern Ireland. Today, the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies remain outside the UK, but the power to designate cities continues to be vested ultimately with the UK government and the present sovereign Charles III, who is also the head of state for these lands. There are (as of 2022) presently four cities in the Overseas Territories, and one on a Crown Dependency.^[1]