Peel is thought to be one of the first towns from a Crown Dependency to apply to become a city.

Applications are being made from across the British Islees to Westminster to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Though city status has historically been tied with having a cathedral - which Peel has had since the 12th century in the grounds of Peel castle - this is not a requirement, with Birmingham having been granted city status in 1889 despite not having one. Royal assent, however, is required.

Peel is already known among Manx people as ’The Sunset City’, and the Papal Bulls of 1253 and 1349 addressed the people of Peel as the ’Sodor Cathedral City’.

It is still the smallest diocese in the British Isles, and 150 years older than that of Canterbury.

The Dean of the current cathedral (consecrated in 1980), Reverend Nigel Godfrey, said: ’Our town’s history stretches back to the Viking invaders and to the mission of St Patrick in sending his disciple German.

’It is the home of Manx Celtic language scholars and Manx kipper smoke houses that have survived after the tourism boom of the 20th century.

’We are delighted to have submitted our claim for formal City status, in partnership with Peel Commissioners.’

Commissioner Alan Jones described how the case for Peel needed to be put forward in a lengthy application form.

He said among the things highlighted were the ’good governance’ of the town by its MHKs and commissioners, the strong community spirit, and its ’ambience’ as a place to live.

Its history was also mentioned, from ancient times through to the presence of the largest World War One internment camp at Knockaloe (where pilates was invented), and the manufacture of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50.

Asked what made this decade the one to finally make the application, Mr Jones said the commissioners had discussed the idea in the past, but it was Rev Godfrey who had taken the opportunity to organise the effort to submit this year’s application.

The smallest official city in the UK is St David’s in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of just under 1,800.

The 2016 census recorded Peel as having a population of 5,374.

Among the other contenders for 2022 are Milton Keynes, Blackburn and Northampton.

The last time such a contest was held was for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which saw three towns win city status - Chelmsford, Perth, Armagh and St Asaph in Wales (which is considerably smaller than Peel).

More than 25 towns submitted applications that year.

Before that, Newport, Preston, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry were granted status for the 2002 Golden Jubilee.

This year was an exceptional case when city status was confirmed for Southend-on-Sea, making it the UK’s 52nd city in honour of MP Sir David Amess who was murdered by a terrorist in October.