U.Va., Presidential Precinct to Host Prince Charles at Magna Carta Event

The University of Virginia and its Presidential Precinct partners will host Prince Charles March 18 at a global issues forum on the Magna Carta at the National Archives in Washington.

“Magna Carta 2015: Global Empowerment through Rule of Law” will feature engagement between the Prince of Wales and young leaders from 20 nations worldwide.

The half-day event will unite the young leaders with dignitaries and policy experts representing business, government, academia and civil society to discuss the rule of law and its role in the evolution of democratic institutions and the global economy.

Gregory B. Fairchild, a professor in U.Va.’s Darden School of Business, will moderate a panel discussion, “Magna Carta of the Future: Challenges Emerging Leaders Face.” He will then lead a town hall meeting summarizing the key elements of the conference and discussing how to practically advance the ideas and sustain the debate through the Presidential Precinct Network.

Jeffrey W. Legro, U.Va.’s vice provost for global affairs, will moderate a panel discussion on “Climate and Conflict: Presentation and Response.” Jessica Mathews, former president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will be one of the panelists.

The day will culminate in a roundtable discussion between Prince Charles and young leaders on a range of issues related to the rule of law in their home countries. Prior to the roundtable, the prince – next in line to the British throne – will tour the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives, as well as the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, which features the original 1297 iteration of the Magna Carta. This year marks the 800^th anniversary of the seminal document, which laid the foundation for the English system of common law and served as a symbol of freedom for the United States’ Founding Fathers.

The event will be live-streamed here.

Young leaders attending the conference under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leaders program will represent the following nations: Algeria, Armenia, Brunei, Croatia, Egypt, Hungary, India, Lithuania, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, and Venezuela. The Presidential Precinct also will host three Mandela Washington Fellows, alumni of the 2014 Young African Leaders program representing Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“The Presidential Precinct was founded to serve young leaders worldwide who aim to advance their ideas and generate positive global change,” said Neal Piper, managing director of the Presidential Precinct. “We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to unite such leaders with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, and additional world-renowned experts, at Magna Carta 2015. The forum will provide these young leaders, as well as thousands of peers participating online, unprecedented perspective and guidance regarding some of the most difficult challenges of our time.”

About The Presidential Precinct

Founded in 2013, the Presidential Precinct is a consortium among two of America’s premier universities, the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary; William Short’s Morven, a U.Va.-owned estate in Albemarle County; and the homes of three Founding Fathers: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, and James Monroe’s Ash-Lawn Highland.

As a physical gathering place for aspiring leaders from emerging democracies, the Presidential Precinct has hosted hundreds of leaders representing over 100 nations, including 25 of the inaugural class of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. In 2014, the Presidential Precinct Network was launched, providing an exclusive and secure online resource attracting members from more than 100 countries and creating over 4,000 global connections. The network enables members to learn new skills, find expert advice, exchange ideas, access professional development resources, and solve the most pressing challenges in their communities.