Britain’s Princess Anne visits Library of Congress

BRETT ZONGKER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Britain’s Princess Anne has visited the Library of Congress in Washington to open a new exhibition marking the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta as a landmark declaration of rights and liberties.

The daughter of Queen Elizabeth II presided over a ceremony Thursday that celebrated the historic document’s influence that eventually inspired the constitutional rights written by the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Lincoln Cathedral in England is loaning one of the only four surviving copies of the original Magna Carta issued in 1215. The document is the centerpiece of the new exhibit, “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor.” The 10-week display opened Thursday and runs through Jan. 19.

The National Archives also holds a copy of the Magna Carta from when it was reissued in 1297.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up