The Queen visits the Oxford DNB

On Friday 5 May Her Majesty the Queen visited the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography at its office on St Giles, Oxford. There she met editors and staff who worked on the 60-volume dictionary and who now update and extend its online edition. Among those presented to the Queen were the Oxford DNB's editor, Dr Lawrence Goldman, its former editor, Sir Brian Harrison, and Sue Matthew, widow of the dictionary's founding editor, Colin Matthew.

During her visit Her Majesty viewed an exhibition on the writing and publication of the dictionary in print and online. She also 'published' the Oxford DNB's latest online update by switching on the new electronic version for readers worldwide. The May 2006 update—one of three published each year—adds lives of 127 new men and women to the more than 55,000 already included in the dictionary.

Henry Reece, Robert Faber, Sir Brian Harrison, the Queen, and Sue Matthew

The Queen launches the May 2006 update of the Oxford DNB; on the left, the editor, Lawrence Goldman

Henry Reece, the Queen, and Lawrence Goldman in the Oxford DNB offices

The Queen's visit concluded with the presentation of a set of the 60-volume dictionary by Dr Henry Reece, Secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press. Her Majesty also received a specially printed book commemorating the occasion from Lawrence Goldman.

Speaking afterwards Dr Goldman said that the Queen's visit honoured 'the international collaboration of ten thousand contributors to the Oxford DNB, the many people who advised and assisted in its production, and the staff involved with the project in Oxford since 1992. They have produced a national resource which is the first point of reference for everyone interested in the British past. We are delighted to have been able to show Her Majesty some of our work to extend and update the Oxford DNB for online readers around the world.'

> More about the Oxford DNB
> May 2006 update in full
> Royal lives in the Oxford DNB reading room