Who presented Philadelphia with the Bicentennial Bell on behalf of Britain in 1976?

Queen Elizabeth II presented Philadelphia with the Bicentennial Bell on behalf of Britain in 1976.

The Bicentennial Bell was a large replica of the Liberty Bell, cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. Queen Elizabeth presented it during her 1976 state visit to the United States, linking Britain and the United States through a symbol associated with American independence.

The replica was unusually large: it weighed about 12,000 pounds, making it six times the size of the original Liberty Bell. It carried an inscription expressing Britain’s gift to the people of the United States and echoing the Liberty Bell’s famous message.

The gift is sometimes confused with the original Liberty Bell, which remained an American historic artifact in Philadelphia. The Bicentennial Bell was a separate commemorative object created specifically for the 200th anniversary celebrations.