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Harry Potter fans rush to read the opening lines of a new Harry Pottery book in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. More than 500 million copies have been sold worldwide. Getty Images
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As Boris Johnson sets about developing his programme for developing Global Britain, here are some of the key events in recent decades of Britain on the international stage.Then London Mayor Boris Johnson gets out of a London bus during his visit in Hong Kong in 2013. Getty Images
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Fireworks burst above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth speaks with then US President Barack Obama during a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace in 2011. Getty Images
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Diana, Princess of Wales visits a minefield being cleared in Huambo, Angola. Getty Images
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Prince William takes the hand of his bride Kate Middleton as they walk down the aisle inside Westminster Abbey in 2011. Getty Images
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Sir David Attenborough speaks during the launch of the UK-hosted COP26 UN Climate Summit in 2020. Getty Images
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Richard Branson jumps for joy at the rear of VSS Unity. Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, with the hope of reaching space. Virgin Galactic
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Branson previously crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his balloon, the 'Virgin Atlantic Flyer' . Getty Images
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Crowds watch on as Tony and Cherie Blair visit Washington with then US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Getty Images
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Stephen Hawking during his visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. Getty Images
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Spectators watch the last ever British Airways commercial Concorde flight touch down at Heathrow airport in 2003. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LMMC7IBKTLVETH3NLOHFJ6EIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=63d9762e4e547299dffeb3d21eb69da35fd2dbdd58b55beeaf34f3fa8ca05751&width=400&height=225)
David Beckham during his unveiling as an LA Galaxy Player in 2007. Getty Images
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Inventor James Dyson demonstrates his latest hoovering invention in 2005. Getty Images
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Lewis Hamilton has the most race wins in Formula One history. Getty Images
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Harry Potter fans rush to read the opening lines of a new Harry Pottery book in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. More than 500 million copies have been sold worldwide. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPMM36KDRA2KKV75PCUJ3WHTC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d238b3ba67da9f7775a72b4f883bd59813ca219a2393f53792320fd19ce9bd63&width=400&height=225)
As Boris Johnson sets about developing his programme for developing Global Britain, here are some of the key events in recent decades of Britain on the international stage.Then London Mayor Boris Johnson gets out of a London bus during his visit in Hong Kong in 2013. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGY5LPBE4UHNNOCRWSMOA6YK4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d540fc233694dc79d73a6fab3917a8b5a32a435e36cf0e870f50a7b219917e7c&width=400&height=225)
Fireworks burst above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OUN7SWG7PYV3T2TUYHRHRW3ADE.jpg?smart=true&auth=363951fe085b33566c713803a1a9e057e423b7239ca9b97b6b5a2298ac6a12e5&width=400&height=225)
Queen Elizabeth speaks with then US President Barack Obama during a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace in 2011. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XVDS46TT3HFLEKQLNKT3D64THY.jpg?smart=true&auth=043ac1c3383eb2165e32e0c2868c0adef8506585b6680f39918a8af051ca0a95&width=400&height=225)
Diana, Princess of Wales visits a minefield being cleared in Huambo, Angola. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TP2NGR737JPCYASUVNXKHY26PE.jpg?smart=true&auth=11d0ff609764b221506b9b8838bcbde32954147af1fbc7cd19136f3634ba8cc5&width=400&height=225)
Prince William takes the hand of his bride Kate Middleton as they walk down the aisle inside Westminster Abbey in 2011. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMBYKRKCYESWGQN5N4PNUGW6LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f6189597a4ba6455fd45d53d1d62182fa46da7d21fadae4b1f4de637ceeb80b&width=400&height=225)
Sir David Attenborough speaks during the launch of the UK-hosted COP26 UN Climate Summit in 2020. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4RT6QKX7YJFY66URC7JCXASBMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=eda9a0958c7964e882aa2ae35874b00a3291d3a87efbfc0c9863e4e1faffcfab&width=400&height=225)
Richard Branson jumps for joy at the rear of VSS Unity. Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, with the hope of reaching space. Virgin Galactic
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M4ICS2GMQLROC3U6X3LPL3BQV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba5fc7df3950fe98261844fe3a4e50f03f5d09fc51699d7b32e09f741ceaf315&width=400&height=225)
Branson previously crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his balloon, the 'Virgin Atlantic Flyer' . Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A7NFLPFYHKWPRMRXSF4VXB3ECY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fca16f32c4633f9585e8225b6d3903d0797bbf76fc3072e9dbda0a8a0146f7c&width=400&height=225)
Crowds watch on as Tony and Cherie Blair visit Washington with then US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ON6POWSNMT6RRAA46YR3ER4FK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c9bce562cf428a0f34a26e899b2a13ba0b1cd5347b5e18fbf725b7768519ada&width=400&height=225)
Stephen Hawking during his visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLO7E6RFRYD6TCYYXHB5KMXACI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d494159fd00588adebc6068da7c0e9ccf794318a73dafb6c8891ae9288ee78e9&width=400&height=225)
Spectators watch the last ever British Airways commercial Concorde flight touch down at Heathrow airport in 2003. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LMMC7IBKTLVETH3NLOHFJ6EIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=63d9762e4e547299dffeb3d21eb69da35fd2dbdd58b55beeaf34f3fa8ca05751&width=400&height=225)
David Beckham during his unveiling as an LA Galaxy Player in 2007. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F6IZJUQJTQ5SUL7TBN5TR5H3VY.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc4850ed507e73fe59972a3a0d0192d01dc167abf2b57362c54e8b5cbd8cc913&width=400&height=225)
Inventor James Dyson demonstrates his latest hoovering invention in 2005. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOYY664TVBULAPCCKOAC7VNHDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2288eee3b576511871ad5fc40c7b401f73107cf80e359ab0a832d504283b9c12&width=400&height=225)
Lewis Hamilton has the most race wins in Formula One history. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LK4WYFM5TDE3JVS2TR4NW6KKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=458bdc19cd899520982e1e99e7713bd592d21df4eebbc9b9f45b8f7efb81746b&width=400&height=225)
Harry Potter fans rush to read the opening lines of a new Harry Pottery book in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. More than 500 million copies have been sold worldwide. Getty Images
Boris Johnson’s challenge: turn Global Britain slogan into economic reality
Influential thinkers set out guidelines for developing UK’s international trade
![Thomas Harding](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F384edce7-d64f-494d-bcc0-406f934ad51d.png?smart=true&auth=8a909847700683429f8bc49fba9592513058d9a433fbdd0e6b812909d2e147c6&width=70&height=70)
Thomas Harding
25 February, 2021
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