Meghan & Harry See the Declaration of Independence
Ahead of their royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a special trip to Sussex today.
The royals were famously bestowed with the titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day in May 2018, so their visit to the region holds a special significance. From opening the University of Chichester's new Technology Park, to meeting with the Brighton Survivors' Network, Meghan and Harry reaffirmed their support for young people and women's rights during their visit.
The first stop on their Sussex tour took the Duke and Duchess to Chichester where they visited Edes House. As an American, Meghan's visit to Edes House is of particular importance as the building is home to Sussex's extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. Here's everything you need to know about the important document, and how it relates to the original Declaration of Independence.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Via History.com, the Declaration of Independence was first drawn up in June 1776 during the Revolutionary War. The move towards independence from Britain led Congress to "formally adopted the Declaration of Independence" on July 4, 1776.
Written by five men including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, with Jefferson being the main author, the Declaration of Independence asserted America's rights as independent from the British crown.
Harvard Researchers discovered the second copy.
Per The Guardian, back in April 2017, two researchers from Harvard University revealed that they'd discovered the "second parchment manuscript copy" of the Declaration of Independence, "neatly folded away in the West Sussex Records Office in Chichester," according to i News.
The Independent reported in July 2018 that the document's legitimacy had been verified, and that a date had been discovered on the parchment as reading either "July 4, 178" or "July 4, 179."
How did it end up in England?
It's believed that the copy belonged to the Third Duke of Richmond, who was apparently known as the "Radical Duke" as he supported American colonists, per the Daily Mail.
Per i News, the parchment is thought to have originated in either New York or Philadelphia, before mysteriously making its way to Sussex.
The other copy can be found in Washington D.C.
The only other copy lives in the National Archives in Washington D.C., so it's somewhat of a coincidence that the Duchess of Sussex is an American, and that her new namesake is home to the second parchment copy of America's Declaration of Independence.
Reuters reports that while other copies have been made, the Sussex discovery is important as it's the "only other ceremonial parchment" next to the Matlack Declaration from 1776, making it a crucial piece of American history.
Meghan and Harry also signed the guest book inside Edes House, marking their iconic visit:
('You Might Also Like',)
Solve the daily Crossword
