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| Queen to attend Magna Carta commemorations | Queen to attend Magna Carta commemorations |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Queen and members of the Royal Family are to attend an event marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. | The Queen and members of the Royal Family are to attend an event marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. |
| The ceremony will take place at Runnymede in Surrey, close to the River Thames, where King John of England sealed the original document in 1215. | The ceremony will take place at Runnymede in Surrey, close to the River Thames, where King John of England sealed the original document in 1215. |
| The charter first protected the rights and freedoms of society as well as establishing that the King was subject to the law rather than being above it. | The charter first protected the rights and freedoms of society as well as establishing that the King was subject to the law rather than being above it. |
| The prime minister and dignitaries from around the world will also attend. | |
| The Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will be at the event. | |
| The formal ceremony will take place from 09:15 BST with entertainment starting from 07:00 including musical and spoken word performances. | The formal ceremony will take place from 09:15 BST with entertainment starting from 07:00 including musical and spoken word performances. |
| Why is Magna Carta so important? | Why is Magna Carta so important? |
| By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent | By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent |
| "Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?" asked an exasperated Tony Hancock playing the jury foreman in an episode of his famous Half Hour. | "Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?" asked an exasperated Tony Hancock playing the jury foreman in an episode of his famous Half Hour. |
| Clearly not. Far from dying, Magna Carta has had a life longer, fuller and more influential than the most optimistic medieval baron could have imagined. | Clearly not. Far from dying, Magna Carta has had a life longer, fuller and more influential than the most optimistic medieval baron could have imagined. |
| But why is a charter from 1215 which was declared null and void by the Pope within weeks of being written, which doesn't mention "trial by jury" or "habeas corpus" (the right not to be held indefinitely without trial) and which forbids any woman from accusing a man of murder or manslaughter, seen as the foundation of our liberties and our law? | But why is a charter from 1215 which was declared null and void by the Pope within weeks of being written, which doesn't mention "trial by jury" or "habeas corpus" (the right not to be held indefinitely without trial) and which forbids any woman from accusing a man of murder or manslaughter, seen as the foundation of our liberties and our law? |
| At its heart is the idea that the law is not simply the whim of the king, or the government. It is the great egalitarian legacy of Magna Carta, that all are equal under the law, and all can be held to account. | At its heart is the idea that the law is not simply the whim of the king, or the government. It is the great egalitarian legacy of Magna Carta, that all are equal under the law, and all can be held to account. |
| It is that idea that gave birth to so many of our rights and freedoms, to parliamentary democracy, fair trial, and a series of controls on the abuse of arbitrary power. | It is that idea that gave birth to so many of our rights and freedoms, to parliamentary democracy, fair trial, and a series of controls on the abuse of arbitrary power. |
| There will also be a rededication of the American Bar Association's Magna Carta Memorial and a new art installation commissioned for the anniversary will be unveiled in the meadows. | |
| The work, called The Jurors, is inspired by the 39th clause of Magna Carta, which gives the right to a jury trial. | |
| Artist Hew Locke said it was a "great honour" to be chosen to produce the piece. | |
| A replica of the Great Charter began its journey down the Thames on Saturday as part of the commemorations. | A replica of the Great Charter began its journey down the Thames on Saturday as part of the commemorations. |
| The Royal Barge Gloriana has led 200 boats from Hurley in Berkshire and is due to arrive at Runnymede on Monday. | The Royal Barge Gloriana has led 200 boats from Hurley in Berkshire and is due to arrive at Runnymede on Monday. |
| There are just four known copies of the original Magna Carta in existence today, from an estimated 13 that were made. | There are just four known copies of the original Magna Carta in existence today, from an estimated 13 that were made. |
| Two are held by the British Library, with Salisbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral holding the others. | Two are held by the British Library, with Salisbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral holding the others. |
| What was Magna Carta? | |
| BBC iWonder - How did a peace treaty from 1215 forge the freedoms of 2015? | |
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