Welcome to Kingdom 1000—celebrating the 1,000-year-old ancestor to all modern equal rights and human rights across the world.

In 1020, King Knut of England issued a Proclamation that everyone in his kingdom was equal in the eyes of the law, regardless of class or ethnicity. His reign went on to be the longest period of peace for Britain in over 600 years.

Later kings and noblemen used Knut’s law as the basis for their own. 1000 years on, some of Knut’s words can still be found in Magna Carta, the US Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The journey is far from over. Inequality still exists in many parts of the UK, let alone the world.

But we’ve come a long way since Knut’s original vision. This millennial is an opportunity to celebrate humanity’s persistence to gain a better, stronger, more united future.

Every Tuesday at 6pm between 28th July and 13th October, Kingdom 1000 explores the history that gave rise to the UK’s first “equality law”. In this web series, you can join storyteller and historian Chip Colquhoun in conversation with artists and creators including BBC Food’s Manju Malhi and BBC Sound of Musicals presenter Neil Brand, to discuss how they reflect the themes of equality, diversity, and compassion in their creativity.

Then click “Get involved” or “Login” to send us your creative responses—to celebrate the journey of equality, and be in with a chance of being selected for a mammoth celebratory festival in 2021!