A porcelain plate printed with a portrait of Edward VII in naval uniform. The border displays the arms of the countries of the British Empire: Africa, Hong Kong, West Indies, Burmah, Ceylon, India, New Zeland, Australia, Canada and Gibraltar. Made by John Rose & Co, 1908. Repro ID: E6245 ©National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, James Blewitt CollectionThe British Empire was at its largest extent in 1919, after Britain acquired Germany’s East and West African colonies and Samoa in the Treaty of Versailles which had ended World War I.

At that point it was literally true that during a 24-hour day there was never a moment at which it was not daylight somewhere in the British Empire.

It was also claimed that at its height the British Empire covered a quarter of the Earth’s surface – this figure is only correct if countries which were under formal protection agreements, rather than being a part of empire, are included.

It is also true that the Empire began to shrink virtually as soon as it reached its greatest extent: only three years later in 1922, Ireland and Egypt gained their independence.