British Airways And Hereford Cathedral Send Rare Copy Of 1217 Magna Carta On Global Tour

British Airways staffers proudly display an original copy of the Magna Carta

A global tour began yesterday to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, one of the most important historical documents in the world. Over the course of four months, an original version of the document from 1217, accompanied by the only surviving 1215 King's Writ from Runnymede, will pass through seven countries, across four continents and 25 time zones, travelling a total of approximately 65,000 miles.

British Airways has provided leadership support for the Magna Carta 800 Global Tour, and on Monday, September 21, flew the document across the Atlantic in the airline's first-class cabin with a dedicated security guard.

On loan from Hereford Cathedral in England, both documents will continue from New York to tour stops in China (including Hong Kong), Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Singapore, where it will be displayed at a number of public venues.

The "Magna Carta 800: Sharing the Legacy of Freedom" exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, one of America's pre-eminent cultural institutions, will be on view from September 23 through September 30, 2015. It is the first and only US stop on the global tour, and the documents will be on display alongside key documents relating to the creation of the United States from the New-York Historical Society Library.

"The Magna Carta is a hugely important part of our history and stands as a beacon for our values today," UK Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said. "The tour is a fantastic way of enabling people from America to Asia to see it first hand, and to reflect on all that it stands for."

British Airways Captain Ian Aird, who flew the charter from London Heathrow to New York's JFK airport, said: "VIPs regularly travel across the pond with us, but with a price tag of £24 million the Magna Carta and the King's Writ are definitely one of the most precious pieces of cargo we've ever had the honor of carrying. The news that we had such an important piece of history on board certainly created a buzz in our First class cabin."

The Magna Carta has played a key role in the history of democracy around the world and still forms part of British law today. The tour will demonstrate its international resonance while also showcasing British influence across trade, law, international values and democracy. In the US, Magna Carta remains a hugely respected symbol of independence and civil liberty, and is considered the catalyst for the development of modern-day democracy in the New World. The document established fundamental principles that inspired America's Founding Fathers when they wrote the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Queen Mary 2 And Queen Victoria To Support Magna Carta's 800th Anniversary

SOUTHAMPTON, England - A rare facsimile of arguably one of the most important documents in English history, the Magna Carta, will be going on display on board Cunard's flagship liner, Queen Mary 2 and sister ship Queen Victoria between May and September 2015, as the 'Great Charter' sealed by King John in 1215 celebrates its 800th anniversary year.

As the shipping line continues to celebrate its 175th anniversary year, Salisbury Cathedral will be lending a rare facsimile of its Magna Carta, one of only four of the original 1215 documents in existence, to Cunard. The facsimile will be displayed in the Grand Lobby of Queen Mary 2 from early May until September 2015, with a 6 night sojourn aboard Queen Victoria in late May.

Cunard and the Magna Carta share some interesting history. During WWII, the Lincoln Magna Carta, one of the four originals, was moved to Washington DC for safe-keeping. In January 1946 it began its journey home, first to New York and then on board Queen Elizabeth for the voyage to Southampton. The ship's Captain, Commodore Sir James Bisset, kept the metal box containing the precious document in the safest place he could think of for the duration of the crossing – under his bed!

Robert Key, Chairman of the Salisbury Cathedral 2015 Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Board, and a Member of the National Magna Carta 800th Committee will be escorting the copy of Salisbury's Magna Carta during crossings aboard Queen Mary 2 on 10-17 May 2015 and 4-11 September 2015, and aboard Queen Victoria's cruise on 22-28 May 2015. Robert will hold two talks on each voyage about the legacy of the Magna Carta, and the profound effect it had in shaping the world as we know it today.

The Magna Carta was a series of written promises between the king and his subjects that he, the king, would govern England and deal with its people according to the customs of feudal law. The Magna Carta was an attempt by the barons to stop a king - in this case John - abusing his power and causing suffering to the people of England.
Robert explains to significance of partnership with the Magna Carta and Cunard in their joint anniversary year:

"I, and Salisbury Cathedral, are delighted to be working with Cunard as we celebrate the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary by loaning a very rare facsimile of the document. The impact of the Magna Carta was not only felt ashore, but in these lectures we have a golden opportunity to explain and explore those fundamental freedoms that give Cunard ships the right to sail the seven seas – rights that we won 800 years ago and for which people the world over are still prepared to fight and to die."

"It is an honour to welcome the Magna Carta, such a significant piece of world history, to both our flagship liner, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Victoria during our 175th anniversary year," said Richard Meadows, President, Cunard, North America. "Hosting someone such as Robert Key, and providing our guests a glimpse into the enduring impact of this historical document on our world today, truly exemplifies what Cunard's Insights enrichment programme is all about."

The Magna Carta copy will join Queen Mary 2 from 10 May and will stay on board until 11 September 2015. It will be transferred to Queen Victoria for a short period, 26-28 May, part of the ship's Liverpool Salute sailing 22-28 May 2015. On 25 May 2015, all three Queens will sail together into the Liverpool, the spiritual home of Cunard, for the first time.