This year, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years on the throne, the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition was launched, offering towns across the UK the opportunity to obtain city status to help boost tourism and local economies. For the first time ever, the competition was also open to the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. From its 38 entrants who were required to demonstrate how their "unique communities and distinct loyal identities meant that they deserved to be awarded city status", a record number of new cities have been announced, including the newest addition, Gibraltar.