Gibraltar is now officially a city although it was granted this status by Queen Victoria 180 years ago. The British overseas territory applied to become a city earlier this year to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
But when researchers looked into the National Archives, they found that it had already been granted city status in 1842.
The grade of the area called The Rock has now been reconfirmed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it a "huge compliment", celebrating its "rich history and dynamism".
Gibraltar has been a British overseas territory since 1713 when it was ceded to Great Britain in a peace treaty following the War of the Spanish Succession.
A Jubilee competition saw 39 places apply to become cities, of which eight, including Doncaster, Bangor, and Dunfermline, eventually received the status.
City status is often associated with a cathedral, university, or large population, but there is no set rule for this. His rank is conferred by the king on the advice of ministers.
The material benefits may be few, but they can often boost communities and is usually a source of pride for residents.
The government says Gibraltar was originally removed from the official lists after being granted status by Queen Victoria, but it is not clear how this happened.
The latest record of 81 places named cities has now been published.
Gibraltar is one of only five territories outside the UK to be recognized as a city. Hamilton in Bermuda, Jamestown in St Helena, and Douglas in the Isle of Man were already on the list, while Stanley in the Falklands Islands was among those nominated for this year's Jubilee.
Southend, a town in the south-east of the UK county of Essex, was also given city status earlier this year following the murder of MP David Ames. Amis had been representing the South and West constituency since 1997 and had campaigned for city status for a long time.
Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse said: 'The cities on this list are incredibly rich in history and culture, and local people in these areas are rightly proud to see their city's significance on paper.
"I hope that people living in these places, especially the new cities, can reap the benefits of the increased global status of their home and that this will attract more inward investment for local businesses."
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