25 August 2010 Last updated at 15:04

Agincourt to 2010: a potted history of the UK passport

King Henry V -- it was during his reign in 1414 that the first version of the passport was introduced

1414: The first version of the passport - 'Safe Conducts' was introduced during the reign of King Henry V (seen here at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415).

1852: Passport for John Daniel Coggen and his wife. It was signed by the then foreign secretary (until 1794 all passports would have been issued and signed by the monarch).

1914: The British passport of Digby Lander, allowing him to travel to Russia during World War I.

1920: The League of Nations International Conference on Passports agrees on a new book format for passports. The United Kingdom chooses dark blue for the cover.

1971: Note the hand-written change of her maiden name. This was one of the last passports to be issued without any security features. From 1972 the paper was watermarked, and from 1975 photographs were laminated to make it harder to substitute pictures.

1988: The first burgundy-coloured machine-readable UK passports are issued. A common format is introduced for passports from European Community member states.

1995: The British Visitor's Passport is discontinued after 34 years. It was available from post offices, and allowed travel only within western Europe.

1997: Introduction of first UK passports with reference to the European Union.

Electronic biometric chip, added to UK passports since 2006, partly to comply with US visa waiver programme

2006: ePassports introduced, featuring an electronic biometric chip which contains the holder's personal details. This security measure meets the demands of the US visa waiver programme.

Details from biometric passports are flashed onto border security officers' computer screens

2006: These biometric e-passports, embedded with microchips, automatically flash their data onto border security officers' screens.

New passports to be issued from October 2010, featuring enhanced security measures

2010: The new generation of UK passports have a range of sophisticated security features including hidden electronic chips and holograms.

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Agincourt to 2010: a potted history of the UK passport

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