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Encyclopedia > UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent parts. Three of these — the ancient nations of England, Wales and Scotland — are located on the island of Great Britain. The fourth part is Northern Ireland, which is located on the island of Ireland and is often described as a province of the United Kingdom. The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland forms the United Kingdom's only international land border. The UK also has overseas territories throughout the world, and relationships with several Crown dependencies. This article describes a type of political entity. ... Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, most of which were once governed by the United Kingdom and are its former colonies. ... G8 (disambiguation). ... The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... For the National Association of Theatre Owners, please see National Association of Theatre Owners. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Official language None; English is de facto Capital London Capitals coordinates 51° 30 N, 0° 10 W Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831... For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation) National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Official languages: English and Welsh Capital: Cardiff First Minister: Rhodri Morgan AM Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² xx% Population  - Total (2001):  - Density: Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... Great Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... A true colour image of Ireland, captured by a NASA satellite on January 4, 2003. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... The Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is the official description of an independent state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland, off the coast of north-west Europe. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... Crown dependencies are possessions of the British Crown, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies. ...

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland1
Flag of the United Kingdom Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
(Flag) (Coat of Arms)
National motto: Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto)
(French: God and my right)2
National anthem: God Save the Queen3
Location of the United Kingdom
Capital London
51° 30′ 40″ N 0° 7′ 41″ W
Largest city London
Official languages None; English de facto 4
Government Constitutional monarchy
Elizabeth II
Tony Blair
Establishment
18015
Area
 - Total
 - Water (%)
 
244,820 km² (78th)
1.3%
Population
 - July 2003 est.
 - 2001 census
 - Density
 
59,553,800 6 (22nd)
58,789,194
246.5/km² (49th)
GDP (PPP)
 - Total
 - Per capita
2005 estimate
$1,739,572 million (7th)
$28,877 (18th)
Currency British pound (£) (GBP)
Time zone
 - Summer (DST)
GMT (UTC+0)
BST (UTC+1)
Internet TLD .uk7
Calling code +44
1In the UK, some other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous (regional) languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, the UK's official name is as follows:
  • Welsh: Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon
  • Scottish Gaelic: An Rìoghachd Aonaichte na Breatainn Mhòr agus Eirinn a Tuath
  • Irish Gaelic: Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Tuaisceart na hÉireann
  • Cornish: An Rywvaneth Unys a Vreten Veur hag Iwerdhon Glédh
  • Lowland Scots: Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland

2Unofficial.
3 The Royal motto in Scotland is Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (Latin: "No-one harms me with impunity").
4 Officially recognised regional languages:
in Wales: Welsh; and in Scotland: Scottish Gaelic since 2004 Act.
5 Formed as United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Name changed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927.
6 Official estimate provided by the UK Office for National Statistics. As of April 2005, the July 2004 estimates were not yet available.
7 ISO 3166-1 is GB.
Union Flag / Union Jack: Flag of the United Kingdom For more information, see Court of the Lord Lyon, Flags. ... UK Royal Coat of Arms This work is copyrighted. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland uses as its national flag the Royal Banner commonly known as the Union Jack, or more properly Union Flag as it only becomes a Jack when flown at sea. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom The Royal Arms of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are her arms of dominion in right of the United Kingdom. ... Here is a list of state mottos for countries and their subdivisions around the world. ... Dieu et mon droit (French for God and my [birth] right) has generally been used as the motto of the British monarch since it was first adopted by Henry VI in the early 15th century. ... French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... This is a list of national anthems. ... This article is on the British patriotic anthem. ... File links The following pages link to this file: United Kingdom User:DanielZm/test User talk:Jdforrester/Archive 3 Template:United Kingdom Infobox Template:United Kingdom infobox ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... At the April 2001 census, the United Kingdoms population was 58,789,194-- the third-largest in the European Union (behind Germany and metropolitan France) and the 21st-largest in the world. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... An official language is something that is given a unique status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The United Kingdom has no official language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... This is a list of countries categorized by system of government currently in use. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... A constitutional monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges a hereditary or elected monarch as head of state. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, commonly called Tony Blair (born 6 May 1953) has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 1997, when he brought the Labour Party into power after 18 consecutive years of Conservative government. ... The 1800 Act of Union merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... Events January 1 - Legislative union of Ireland completed under the Act of Union 1800, bringing about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Here is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Here is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for July, 2003. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 - A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall appears in Seattles Magnuson Park, placed by an anonymous... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population. ... List of countries/dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The figures in this table are based on areas including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers. ... This is a list of the worlds economies sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP) at market or government official exchange rates. ... In economics, purchasing power parity (PPP) is a method used to calculate an alternative exchange rate between the currencies of two countries. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Here is a list of countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... Here is a list of countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, divided by population as of 1 July for the same year. ... The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... ISO 4217 is an international standard describing three letter codes to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization or ISO. The first two letters of the code are the two letters of ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes (which are similar to those used... -1... Daylight saving time (also called DST, or Summer Time) is the portion of the year in which a regions local time is advanced by (usually) one hour from its standard official time. ... For alternate meanings of GMT, see GMT (disambiguation). ... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... British Summer Time (BST), known in Ireland as Irish Summer Time (IST), is the daylight saving time in effect in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October each year. ... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs). ... .uk is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom has no official language. ... An autochthonous language is an indigenous language, one resident for a considerable length of time in a territory or region spoken by an autochthonous group. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country - it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a European convention (CETS 148) adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The Cornish language (in Cornish: Kernowek, Kernewek, Curnoack) is one of the Brythonic group of Celtic languages that includes Welsh, Breton and, originally, Cumbrian. ... Scots (or Lallans, meaning Lowlands), properly Lowland Scots, is used in Lowland Scotland, as well as parts of Northern Ireland and border areas of the Republic of Ireland, where it is known in official circles as Ulster Scots or Ullans but by speakers simply as Scotch or Scots. On the... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation) National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Official languages: English and Welsh Capital: Cardiff First Minister: Rhodri Morgan AM Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² xx% Population  - Total (2001):  - Density: Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Events January 7 - First transatlantic telephone call - New York City to London January 9 - Military rebellion crushed in Lisbon January 14 - Paul Doumer elected president of France January 19 - Britain sends troops to China February 12 - First British troops lad on Shanghai February 14 - Earthquake in Yugoslavia - 700 dead February... The Office for National Statistics is the UK government agency charged with the collection and publication of government statistics. ... ISO 3166-1 as part of the ISO 3166 standard provides codes for the names of countries and dependent areas. ... Great Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the Kingdom of England (which included Wales as a principality) with those of, first, Scotland and then Ireland under a single government in London. The greater part of Ireland left the United Kingdom (then called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) in 1922 to form an independent state (in which, until 1949, the King of the United Kingdom was also King of Ireland). This state later became the Republic of Ireland. Six counties in the north-eastern portion of the island, meanwhile, remained a part of the United Kingdom, forming Northern Ireland. Act of Union can mean: United Kingdom The Act of Union is a name given to several acts passed by the English, Scottish and British Parliaments from 1536 onwards. ... England and Wales (red), with the rest of the United Kingdom (pink) England and Wales are two individual nations within the United Kingdom. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... The Union Flag, in its modern form, was first adopted in 1801. ... The Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is the official description of an independent state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland, off the coast of north-west Europe. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ...


The UK is situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe, and has a land border with the Republic of Ireland, but is otherwise surrounded by the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea, the Irish Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... The English Channel ( French:La Manche) is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Celtic Sea is the sea bounded by Wales, Ireland, and southwest England; the name is commonly used by workers in the oil industry to avoid nationalist significance. ... bmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...


Great Britain, or just Britain, is the geographical name of the largest of the British Isles (often also including its smaller neighbouring islands, though never Ireland). Politically, the term Great Britain refers collectively to the nations of England, Wales and Scotland (i.e., the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland). This political usage of "Great Britain" dates from the personal union of the Crowns of Scotland and England (including Wales) in 1603, with the term being used in the sense "all of Britain". In the early years of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain", formed by the Act of Union of 1707, it was customary to refer officially to Scotland and to England and Wales as, respectively, "North Britain" and "South Britain", though the usage never really caught on. It should be noted that the practice by some, the informal media in particular, of using "(Great) Britain" as shorthand for the United Kingdom is an inaccuracy which can cause offence. Great Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The word Britain is used to refer to the United Kingdom (UK) the island of Great Britain, which consists of the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales sometimes the Roman province called Britain or Britannia The word British generally means belonging to or associated with Britain in one of the... British Isles is also an old name for the Great Britain, Great Britain Ireland The Isle of Man The Isle of Wight The Northern Isles, including Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle The Hebrides, including the Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides and Small Isles Rockall The islands of the lower Firth of... Events March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James VI of Scotland, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England April 28 – Funeral of Elizabeth I of England in Westminster Abbey July 17 or July 19 - Sir Walter Raleigh arrested for treason. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (going into effect on 26 March) in the Scottish and the English Parliaments. ...


The British Isles is a term frequently used to refer to the archipelago which includes the mainland of Great Britain, the mainland of Ireland, and the smaller islands associated with these two, such as the Channel Islands, the Hebrides, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, Orkney, the Shetland Islands, etc. The term is, however, often avoided, especially in Ireland, by those who are conscious that it is sometimes misunderstood internationally to mean "the islands belonging to Britain (i.e. the United Kingdom)", a description out of date in the Irish case since 1922. An alternative, the Islands of the North Atlantic (IONA) has been proposed, but is little used outside diplomatic circles. British Isles is also an old name for the Great Britain, Great Britain Ireland The Isle of Man The Isle of Wight The Northern Isles, including Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle The Hebrides, including the Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides and Small Isles Rockall The islands of the lower Firth of... An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... A true colour image of Ireland, captured by a NASA satellite on January 4, 2003. ... Alternative meaning: Channel Islands of California The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel. ... This article is about the Hebrides islands in Scotland. ... The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin in Manx), a British crown dependency, lies in the Irish Sea almost equidistant from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... The Isle of Wight is an island county off the south coast of England, opposite Southampton. ... The Orkney Islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and are a Lieutenancy Area. ... See Shetland (disambiguation) for other meanings. ... A true colour image of Ireland, captured by a NASA satellite on January 4, 2003. ...

Contents

History

Main article: History of the United Kingdom The United Kingdom is the realm or kingdom that covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and which for over one hundred years included Ireland. ...


Scotland and England have existed as separate unified entities since the 10th century. Wales, under English control since the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, became part of the Kingdom of England by the Act of Union 1536. With the Act of Union 1707, the separate kingdoms of England and Scotland, having shared the same monarch since 1603, agreed to a permanent union as the Kingdom of Great Britain. This occurred at a time when Scotland was on the brink of economic ruin and was deeply unpopular with the broader Scottish population. The Act of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland, which had been gradually brought under English control between 1169 and 1691, to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This was also an unpopular decision, taking place just after the unsuccessful United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798 (see also Society of the United Irishmen). The timing, when further Napoleonic intervention or an invasion was feared, was predominantly due to security concerns. In 1922, after bitter fighting which echoes down to the current political strife, the Anglo-Irish Treaty partitioned Ireland into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, with the latter remaining part of the United Kingdom. As provided for in the treaty, Northern Ireland, which consists of six of the nine counties of the Irish province of Ulster, immediately opted out of the Free State and to remain in the UK. About 40% of the population wish to reunite Northern Ireland with the rest of the country. The nomenclature of the UK was changed in 1927 to recognise the departure of most of Ireland, with the name United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland being adopted. ( 9th century - 10th century - 11th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... The Statute of Rhuddlan was created in 1284 after the conquest of Wales by the English king Edward I. After the defeat of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282, Wales was incorporated into England and Edward set about pacifying the new territory. ... Events June 26 - According to the Brothers Grimm and older sources, in this date the Pied Piper of Hamelin visits the town of Hamelin, resulting in ca. ... The Kingdom of England was a state on the island of Great Britain, covering roughly the southern two-thirds. ... The Acts of Union 1536-1543 were a series of parliamentary measures by which Wales was annexed to England and the norms of English administration introduced in order to create a single state. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (going into effect on 26 March) in the Scottish and the English Parliaments. ... Events March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James VI of Scotland, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England April 28 – Funeral of Elizabeth I of England in Westminster Abbey July 17 or July 19 - Sir Walter Raleigh arrested for treason. ... The united Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the merger of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England in 1707 (see Act of Union 1707). ... The 1800 Act of Union merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... National motto: None Capital Dublin head of state King of Ireland Kings representative: variously called Judiciar, Lord Deputy or Lord Lieutenant of Ireland head of government: Chief Secretary for Ireland Parliament: Irish House of Commons and Irish House of Lords The Kingdom of Ireland was the name given to... Events Prince Andrey Bogolyubskiy sacks the Kievan Rus capital Kiev. ... Events March 5 - French troops under Marshal Louis-Francois de Boufflers besiege the Spanish-held town of Mons March 29 - Siege of Mons ends to the city’s surrender Treaty of Limerick penalizes public worship of catholics and Presbyterians Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Suleiman II (1687... The Union Flag, in its modern form, was first adopted in 1801. ... The Society of the United Irishmen was a political organisation in eighteenth century Ireland that sought independence from Great Britain. ... Signature page of the Anglo_Irish Treaty The Anglo_Irish Treaty was a treaty between the British government and the Irish Republic which brought the Anglo-Irish War to an end and established the Irish Free State. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... For other places and things named Ulster, see Ulster (disambiguation). ... Events January 7 - First transatlantic telephone call - New York City to London January 9 - Military rebellion crushed in Lisbon January 14 - Paul Doumer elected president of France January 19 - Britain sends troops to China February 12 - First British troops lad on Shanghai February 14 - Earthquake in Yugoslavia - 700 dead February...

The British Empire in 1897.
The British Empire in 1897.

The United Kingdom, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing Western ideas of property, liberty, capitalism and parliamentary democracy - to say nothing of its part in advancing world literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one quarter of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous nation. Download high resolution version (1116x849, 158 KB)The World in 1897. ... Download high resolution version (1116x849, 158 KB)The World in 1897. ... A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ...


The UK is currently weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the European Union, it has not yet chosen to adopt the euro, owing to internal political considerations and the government's judgement of the prevailing economic conditions. There is considerable internal opposition to European Integration within the UK, and some British economists demand that the European Central Bank be reformed to mirror the Bank of England before the UK joins the Euro, a demand which, given the German economic difficulties following adoption of the Euro, would seem to be possible in the future. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ... Euro (disambiguation). ... The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany is the central bank of the eurozone, in charge of monetary policy for the 12 countries that use the new euro currency. ... The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom, sometimes known as The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street or The Old Lady. The Bank of England Functions of the bank It performs all the recognized functions of a central bank -- to maintain price stability, and subject to...


Constitutional reform is also a current issue in the UK. The House of Lords has been subjected to ongoing reforms, Scotland elected its own parliament in 1999 and in the same year, devolved assemblies were created in Wales and Northern Ireland. According to opinion polls, the monarchy remains generally popular in spite of recent controversies. Support for a British Republic usually fluctuates between 15% and 25% of the population, with roughly 10% undecided or indifferent.[1]  (http://www.mori.com/mrr/2000/c000616.shtml). Despite the country's liberal heritage, the Government's Information Commissioner stated in 2004 that the country is currently in danger of becoming a surveillance society. This article is about the British House of Lords. ... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... The Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba in Gaelic, Scots Pairlament in Scots) is the national legislature of Scotland. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation) National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Official languages: English and Welsh Capital: Cardiff First Minister: Rhodri Morgan AM Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² xx% Population  - Total (2001):  - Density: Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... The British republican movement is a movement in the United Kingdom which seeks to remove the British monarchy and replace it with a republic with an elected head of state. ... The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) in the United Kingdom, is an independent government authority and reports directly to Parliament. ... Mass surveillance is the surveillance of all or a substantial fraction of the entire population. ...


The United Kingdom is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (successor organisation to the former British Empire) and NATO. It is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council and holds a veto power. It is one of the few (no more than ten) nuclear powers on the planet. Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, most of which were once governed by the United Kingdom and are its former colonies. ... For the National Association of Theatre Owners, please see National Association of Theatre Owners. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... The word veto comes from Latin and literally means I forbid. ... There are currently five nations considered to be nuclear weapons nations, an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ...


See also: Monarchs; History of Britain; History of England; History of Ireland; History of Scotland; History of Wales, UK local history terms This is a list of British monarchs, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of some of the various kingdoms that have existed on, or incorporated, the island of Great Britain, namely: England (united with Wales from 1536) up to 1707; Scotland up to 1707; The Kingdom of Great Britain... Britain may be understood in a number of ways (See Britain). ... England is the largest and most populous of the four main divisions of the United Kingdom. ... Ireland is an island in the north-western Europe. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... The earliest inhabitants of Wales were from continental Europe, who migrated in several waves and who were later subsumed into the culture and race of the Celts. ... Note: although these are UK terms, those marked * are also used in the US. For instance there is a Shambles in Chicago. ...


Politics

Main article: Politics of the United Kingdom The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ...

Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, with executive power exercised by a government headed by the Prime Minister and the other Ministers of State who form the Cabinet. The cabinet is theoretically a subcommittee of the Privy Council, the ancient council that officially advises the monarch. Executive power is vested in the monarch, who serves as Head of State, but in reality Her Majesty's Government is answerable and accountable to the House of Commons, the lower and only directly elected house in Britain's bicameral Parliament. By constitutional convention, Ministers of State are chosen largely from among Members of Parliament (members of the Commons) with a small number chosen from the mainly appointed upper house, the House of Lords. Ministers of State are automatically appointed to the Privy Council and have the ability to exercise to both prerogative and legislative powers. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons and is commissioned by the monarch to form a government based on his or her ability to command the support of the Commons. The current Prime Minister is Tony Blair of the Labour Party, who has been in office since 1997. Queen Elizabeth II - Pictured here in Canadian honours, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit. ... Queen Elizabeth II - Pictured here in Canadian honours, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit. ... A constitutional monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges a hereditary or elected monarch as head of state. ... The Government of the United Kingdom contains a number of Ministries, known in the United Kingdom as Government Departments. ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... In British politics, the Cabinet is comprised of the most senior government ministers, most of them heads of government departments with the title Secretary of State. In the British system of government, the Cabinet is the key formal decision making body of the executive. ... This article concerns the British Sovereigns Privy Council. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. ... A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, commonly called Tony Blair (born 6 May 1953) has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 1997, when he brought the Labour Party into power after 18 consecutive years of Conservative government. ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or social democratic political party in Britain (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ...


The British system of government has been emulated around the world because of the United Kingdom's colonial legacy. Nations that follow British-style parliamentarism, with an executive chosen from, and (theoretically) answerable to the legislature, are said to operate under the Westminster system of governance. The Westminster System is a democratic system of government modelled after that of the United Kingdom system of government and used in Westminster, the seat of government, hence its name. ...


The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II who acceded to the throne in 1952 and was crowned in 1953. In the modern United Kingdom, the monarch's role is mainly, though not exclusively, ceremonial. Her Majesty has access to all Cabinet papers and is briefed weekly by the Prime Minister. Constitutional writer Walter Bagehot asserted that the monarch had three rights: to be consulted, to advise and to warn. These rights are exercised rarely but have proved important at key times—such as when there is a "hung parliament". Each year, normally in November, on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament, Her Majesty the Queen officially opens Parliament, and makes a speech announcing what the government plans to do during the next year. Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Walter Bagehot (February 3, 1826 – March 24, 1877), pronounced “Badge-utt” [1], was a nineteenth century British writer. ... In Parliamentary systems, a hung parliament is one in which no one political party has an outright majority. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...


The monarch is an integral part of Parliament (as the "Crown-in-Parliament") and theoretically gives Parliament the power to meet and create legislation. An Act of Parliament does not become law until it has been signed by the Queen (been given royal assent), although no monarch has refused to give royal assent to a bill that has been approved by Parliament since Queen Anne did so in 1708. The Queen also confers titles and honours to people who have rendered outstanding services to the country, as the Fount of Honour. In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ... Anne Queen of Great Britain and Ireland Anne (6 February 1665–1 August 1714), became Queen of England and Scotland on 8 March 1702. ... Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague September 28: Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya J.S. Bach appointed as chamber musician and...


The monarch is the head of the executive, as well as being Head of State, and the British government is officially known as Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister, who is technically appointed by the Queen, is the head of the government. All foreign policy, such as the signing of treaties and the declaration of war, is done in Her Majesty's name. The monarch is the Fount of Justice in the UK and all criminal cases are brought forward in the monarch's name ("Rex versus" if a King, "Regina versus" if a Queen). The monarch is also the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces. In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... The armed forces of the United Kingdom are known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majestys Armed Forces, officially the Armed Forces of the Crown. ...


The monarchy's popularity remains strong in the UK, despite a number of recent scandals and debates. It is felt by many in the UK that having a non-political person, despite achieving the position on hereditary principles, as Head of State is a better alternative to a political Presidential system. Currently, support for a republic is 23% (according to a recent poll by the Daily Telegraph). In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people that dont found their power status on any principle beyond the control of the people living in that state or country. ... This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ...


The British monarch also reigns in 15 other sovereign countries that are known as the Commonwealth Realms. Although the UK has no political or executive power over these independent nations, it retains influence, through long-standing close relations. In some Commonwealth Realms the Privy Council is the highest Court of Appeal. A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... This article concerns the British Sovereigns Privy Council. ... Court of Appeals is the title of certain appellate courts in various jurisdictions. ...


The monarch is forbidden to become or to marry a Roman Catholic by the Act of Settlement. Catholic is a term generally used in relation to the members, beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Act of Settlement (12 & 13 Wm 3 c. ...

The , on the banks of the in , , is the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
The Palace of Westminster, on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, London, is the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords

Parliament is bicameral, composed of the 646-member elected House of Commons and the mainly appointed House of Lords. The House of Commons is more powerful than the House of Lords. Its 646 members are directly elected from single member constituencies, based on population, from the four parts of the United Kingdom. The House of Lords, also known as the Lords, has currently 706 members. None of these have been elected, and they are all either hereditary peers, life peers, or bishops of the Church of England. Historically, the House of Lords has featured members of nobility who were granted seats by nature of birthright, although this feature has been abolished. Furthermore, the House of Lords Act 1999 severely curtailed the number of the hereditary peers who could sit in the upper chamber - only 92 out of several hundred retain the right, by either being elected by their fellow peers or by holding either of the royal offices of Earl Marshal or Lord Great Chamberlain. Reforms of the House of Lords originally called for all of the hereditary peers to lose their voting rights, however a compromise was reached which will allow them to be gradually phased out. The Palace of Westminster, seen from the London Eye observation wheel on a very dull November day. ... The Palace of Westminster, seen from the London Eye observation wheel on a very dull November day. ... Clock Tower and New Palace Yard from the west The Palace of Westminster, on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, London, is the home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which form the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Length 346 km Elevation of the source 110 m Average discharge  ? m³/s Area watershed 12935 km² Origin Kemble Mouth North Sea Basin countries England This article is about the River Thames in southern England. ... Westminster is the name of a city that covers much of central London, located to the west of the ancient City of London, and which has been the principal seat of government in England for more than nine hundred years. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The Peerage in the United Kingdom includes several hereditary peers, as well as life peers. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... The House of Lords Act 1999, an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament, was a major constitutional enactment as it completely reformed one of the chambers of Parliament, the House of Lords. ... The Peerage in the United Kingdom includes several hereditary peers, as well as life peers. ... Earl Marschal (or Marischal) is an ancient chivalric title used separately in England, Scotland and Ireland. ... The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable. ...


The United Kingdom is described as being traditionally a centralised, or unitary, state, with Parliament at Westminster holding responsibility for most of the UK's political power. Throughout the late nineteenth century the UK debated giving Ireland home rule. Home rule was given to Northern Ireland in 1920: it was eventually abolished by London in 1972, after much civil strife. Home rule came back on the political agenda in the 1990s, with the creation of three home rule parliaments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 1999, the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales were established, the former having primary legislative power. There is some debate, both popular and academic, as to whether the Cornish could be considered a constituent peoples of the UK and possibly a Nation. A movement to obtain some degree of home rule exists in Cornwall, a petition of over 50000 signatures was collected endorsing the call for a Cornish Assembly however the UK government is not known to be considering any form of devolution to Cornwall. Regional Assemblies were attempted in the North, but after a referendum in the 'North East' region where 78% voted against the scheme, the plans for regional governments were abandoned. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister stated, however, that "the Government continues to have a clear policy to decentralise power and improve performance through reform in local government and strengthening all the English regions." Northern Ireland's most recent attempt at home rule, with a directly elected power-sharing Assembly emerged from the Good Friday Agreement, but it is currently suspended. Unlike federalism, however, home rule parliaments have no constitutional status or rights to exist. They are created by Parliament and, as Northern Ireland experienced in 1972, can be abolished by Parliament. Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM... The Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba in Gaelic, Scots Pairlament in Scots) is the national legislature of Scotland. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ... Cornwall ( Cornish: Kernow or occasionally Curnow) is the part of Great Britains south-west peninsula that is west of the River Tamar, often known as the Cornish peninsula or plateau. ... Cornish nationalism is a movement which seeks greater autonomy for the area of Cornwall which advocates assert is not a county of England as is generally regarded, but a separate nation which has never been formally incorporated into England. ... Regional Assembly is a title which has universally been adopted by the English bodies established as regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... The Northern Ireland Assembly is a 108-member legislative body for Northern Ireland that sits at Stormont with powers devolved to it from the Westminster parliament. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ...


See also:

The law of the United Kingdom consists of several independent legal systems which use common law principles, civil law principles, or both. ... Overview Scotland is one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of the United Kingdom The subdivisions of the United Kingdom: Countries The United Kingdom is divided into four entities — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ...


The United Kingdom is divided into four constituent parts:

 
The constituent parts of the United Kingdom (UK)
Flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of England England | Flag Scotland Scotland | Unofficial flag of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland | Flag of Wales Wales

The constituent parts of the United Kingdom have subdivisions as follows: Union Flag / Union Jack: Flag of the United Kingdom For more information, see Court of the Lord Lyon, Flags. ... Large sized flag of England/St Georges Cross/State flag of Gurnsey, 1936-1985 File links The following pages link to this file: The Ashes Arsenal F.C. Cambridgeshire Charlton Athletic F.C. City of London London Borough of Croydon Cheshire Chelsea F.C. Devon England Essex Exeter England... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Official language None; English is de facto Capital London Capitals coordinates 51° 30 N, 0° 10 W Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831... Flag of Scotland (Historical) Ratio 3:5 430 × 260 pixels 2041 bytes There is an alternate flag with a lighter blue coloring: File links The following pages link to this file: Aberdeenshire (unitary) Angus Act of Union 1707 Cross Chelsea F.C. England England national football team Fulham F.C... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... flag of Northern Ireland, from [1]. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four parts of the United Kingdom. ... A lovely image of the Welsh flag, derived from an SVG file by Tobias Jakobs in the sodipodi flags collection. ... For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation) National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Official languages: English and Welsh Capital: Cardiff First Minister: Rhodri Morgan AM Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² xx% Population  - Total (2001):  - Density: Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS... Subnational entity is a generic term for an administrative region within a country — on an arbitrary level below that of the sovereign state — typically with a local government encompassing multiple municipalities, counties, or provinces with a certain degree of autonomy in a varying number of matters. ...

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