History of Gibraltar – in pictures

Lord Heathfield of Gibraltar (George Augustus Eliott) who became governor of Gibraltar in 1775 and defended it against Spain in the great siege of 1779-83. Pictured here with the keys of Gibraltar, in a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds Photograph: Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Lord Heathfield directing operations in the great siege of Gibraltar (June 1779-February 1783), in a painting by John Singleton Copley, circa 1780 Photograph: Rischgitz/Getty Images

Gibraltar seen from Algeciras, circa 1800, engraved by C Bentley Photograph: Universal Images Group/Getty Images

A photograph of Gibraltar taken between 1900 and 1919 Photograph: George Eastman House/Getty Images

A British soldier keeps guard at the entrance of a tunnel. During the second world war many tunnels were dug into the Gibraltar rock to create munitions reserves and to organise defence positions. Image taken around 1940 Photograph: Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Adolf Hitler with General Franco of Spain in Hendaye, on the French-Spanish border, on 23 October 1940. Hitler tried to convince Franco to bring his troops into the war to allow German troops to cross Spain to attack Gibraltar, but Franco refused Photograph: Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

British sailors on shore-leave in a street on 8 May 1944. The civilian population of Gibraltar was evacuated to Britain, Jamaica and Madeira in order for Gibraltar to be fortified against the possibility of attack Photograph: Bert Hardy/Getty Images

A barbary ape sits on the shoulders of a British officer in Gibraltar in May 1954 Photograph: Bert Hardy/Getty Images

Accompanied by their nurse, the royal children visit the apes in Gibraltar on 10 May 1954 Photograph: Rex Features/Daily Mail

The Queen receives four silver keys to the fortress of Gibraltar from governor Gordon MacMillan on 11 May 1954 Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

John Lennon and Yoko Ono board a private aircraft after their wedding in Gibraltar on 20 March 1969. Their pilot Trevor Copleston stands by the plane. Franco closed the Spanish-Gibraltar border in pursuit of his claim for the area from 1969 to 1983 Photograph: Simpson/Getty Images

Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales on their honeymoon in Gibraltar, 1 August 1981 Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images

The border seen from the Spanish side, 1994 Photograph: Sean Longden/Rex Features

A referendum called on 7 November 2002 rejected a proposal to share sovereignty of Gibraltar between the UK and Spain Photograph: Quim Llenas/Cover/Getty Images

The view from an observation platform on Gibraltar of the landing strip of Gibraltar airport and the Bay of Algeciras Photograph: Nick Hannes/Reporters/Eyevine

A pub in Gibraltar, June 2005 Photograph: Image Broker/Rex Features

The Socialist Labour party leader Fabian Picardo celebrates with his wife Justine after winning the general election in Gibraltar, 9 December 2011 Photograph: Marcos Moreno/AFP/Getty Images

Pedestrians and drivers wait to cross the road of the Gibraltar international airport as an aircraft taxis on the tarmac, August 2013 Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters

A police vehicle is parked adjacent to the British-Spanish border in Gibraltar, 6 August 2013 Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images