Douglas Council has applied to Westminster to officially be made a city in honour of the Queen’s 2022 Platinum Jubilee.

The application by the capital, which had a population of around 26,997 in 2016, comes after Peel made one earlier in the week - thought to be the first town from a crown dependency to have ever done so.

The council however insisted that its decision to apply had nothing to do with Peel having already put in an application.

Applications are accepted every 10 years to mark Jubilees as part of civic honours competitions, with Chelmsford, Perth, Armagh and St Asaph in Wales being made cities for the diamond Jubilee in 2012.

In an exceptional case, it was confirmed that Southend-on-Sea would become the UK’s 52nd city, in honour of MP Sir David Amess who was murdered by a terrorist in October.

Council leader councillor Claire Wells said: ’The civic honours competition presents an opportunity to celebrate the compelling mix of history, heritage and culture, diversity, civic pride, record of innovation and strength of community that distinguishes the capital of the Isle of Man, Douglas, a town like no other, the island’s legislative centre and seat of the Manx Parliament, Tynwald.

’In submitting the application, we have been encouraged by the level of support received from Douglas MHKs who clearly share the Council’s view that Douglas is indeed worthy of city status.’

She continued: ’With the Borough of Douglas celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, to achieve city status for Douglas would be an historic moment in the town’s long and rich history.

’It is an honour with the potential to attract new enterprise and investment, alert off-island professionals to the wealth of career opportunities here and promote Douglas and the Isle of Man to a global audience. Crucially, City status would be an honour for Douglas and the Isle of Man that will endure for all time.’

City status has been historically been associated with having a cathedral, however this is not a requirement - with Birmingham having been granted status in 1889 despite not having one.

However, royal assent is required - hence the extensive applications which towns must submit to the UK government making their case for why they should receive status.

Nor does population size necessarily denote city status in the UK - with the country’s smallest city being St David’s in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with just under 1,800 people.

Other applicants in the running for 2022 are Milton Keynes, Blackburn, Northampton and what would become the UK’s smallest city if it won, the Cornish resort of Marazion with just over 1,400 residents.