'Break up letter' from US to Britain to go on show

The Declaration of Independence is the foundational document of the USA

A rare copy of the United States Declaration of Independence will go on display in London next year as part of an exhibition exploring the birth of the country.

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the formal declaration when 13 states declared their independence from Britain.

Representatives of the states signed the document, that said King George III had established "an absolute tyranny" over the British North American colonies.

An exhibition at the National Archives in Kew, titled Revolution 250: The Making Of The USA, will include documents such as a rare print of the declaration.

On show at the National Archives from May to November 2026 will be a rare Dunlap version of the declaration, printed in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776.

Dunlaps were the first official printings of the Declaration of Independence and were named after John Dunlap, the printer whose name is given at the bottom of each copy.

It is believed that only around 200 Dunlap prints were ever made.

The document was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson and it lays out colonies' grievances and asserts their right to self-governance.

It is celebrated annually in the US on 4 July as Independence Day.

The declaration contains one of the most famous sentences in history: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The break with Britain came in the early stages of a war for independence that lasted from April 1775 to September 1783.

The United States won, and the British monarchy acknowledged the independence of the 13 colonies, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation.

America's birthday on 4 July 1776 is commemorated with fireworks

Also on display at the exhibition in Kew will be copies of the Tea Act which led to the Boston Tea Party and the 1783 Treaty of Paris where Britain recognised the USA.

Dr Sean Cunningham, a curator at the National Archives, said: "Revolution 250 will explore two pivotal decades that reshaped the world, tracing the dramatic rise and eventual fall of British power in America.

"At its heart is the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776, a moment that changed history.

"Our records reveal the story of the American Revolution, and highlight the personal experiences of so many who had a stake in the fate of British America."

Three Dunlap prints are held at the National Archives.

Saul Nasse, chief executive at the National Archives, said: "In this momentous year we are excited to be able to showcase the unique documents in our collection to explore the birth of what we now know as the United States of America."

Revolution 250: The Making Of The USA opens on May 23 2026 and will run until November 29 2026 at the National Archives in Kew, south west London