The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Geographical position

In geography, Great Britain is the largest island in Europe. It is the main part of the United Kingdom. It contains England,Scotland and Wales. England is the biggest part of the island. England is in the southeast. Wales is to the west of England. Scotland is to the north of England. Northern Ireland is not a part of the island of Great Britain, but it is part of the United Kingdom.

National symbols

The United Kingdom Royal Coat of Arms consists of a shield divided into four quadrants. Supporting the shield are a crowned lion and a unicorn. The crowned lion represents England and the unicorn represents Scotland. The crowned lion also crowns the Coat of Arms.The Coat of Arms also contains Latin phrases meaning "God and my right" and "Shamed be he who thinks ill of it".

These arms are used by the Queen or King in their official capacity as monarch, and are officially known as the Arms of Dominion.

Coat of Arms

UNION JACK

The United Kingdom flag was officially adopted on January 1, 1801, and it's arguably the world's best known flag. This striking flag is actually a composite of England's St. George's Cross (the centered red cross bordered in white), St. Andrew's Cross of Scotland (the diagonal white cross on the blue field), and the Patron Saint of Ireland (diagonal x-shaped red saltire).

"God Save the Queen," is most commonly credited to a keyboard piece written in 1619, by John Bull. When a male monarch is on the throne of England, it's referred to as "God Save the King."

National Anthem

St. Edward’s Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior Crown Jewels of the UK, often being used as the coronation crown. Since 1952, two-dimensional representations of the crown have been used in coats of arms, badges, and various other insignia to indicate the authority of the monarch throughout the Commonwealth realms.

St. Edward’s Crown

The Tudor Rose, which takes its name from the Tudor dynasty, was adopted as a national emblem of England around the time of the Wars of Roses as a symbol of peace. It is also known as the Rose of England.

The Tudor Rose

Tea is symbolic of England.In 2006, a government sponsored survey confirmed that a cup of tea constituted a national symbol of England. It may also be considered to be symbolic of Britain rather than merely just England as it epitomizes the British connection with Empire and India. It is also drunk widely and equally in England, Scotland and Wales.

Tea

Landmarks

Big Ben, LondonThe Houses of Parliament’s most famous clock tower is one of London’s iconic landmarks.

Tower Bridge, LondonMore than 40,000 people cross the suspension bridge across the Thames built in 1886.

The Lake District, CumbriaFamous for its lakes, forests and mountains, this national park provided inspiration for William Wordsworth’s sonnets.

Edinburgh CastleThe castle is built on a 700 million-year-old extinct volcano called Castle Rock and has been usedas a Royal residence through the ages.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Believed to be 5,000 years old and listed as a World Heritage Site, many druids celebrate the summer solstice there.

Buckingham Palace, London

The 775 room official home of the Queen. The Changing of the Guard takes place outside at 11.30am each day.

New Forest, Hampshire

Created as a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror in 1079, it’s now a haven for cyclists and walkers.

Westminster Abbey, London

Built in 1560, and venue for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it’s full name is the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster.

Blackpool Tower, Lancashire

Inspired by Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the Grade I listed building is 518ft tall and is home to the Tower Ballroom and circus.

Famous People

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is the foremost writer and poet of the English language. His plays, such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet have had a huge impact on culture, language and literature around the world.

Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) an English novelist from Hampshire. Jane Austen’s novels included Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma. She is one of the most widely read novelists in the English language.

Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) was Queen of England from 1837 to her death in 1901. During her reign the British Empire spread across the globe. Victoria herself was made Empress of India. She came to epitomise a century.

Thomas GainsboroughThough famous painters like Hogarth and van Dyck were influences, he favored landscapes, becoming a master of light and brushwork, but when Gainsborough shifted to portraiture for income, his talent attracted the likes of King George III and other nobles, and made him a contender for the position of royal painter.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was a Victorian novelist who created some of the most memorable characters in English Literature. Dickens criticised the worst excesses of Victorian society, through novels like Oliver Twist and David Copperfield.

Princess Diana (1961-1997) married Prince Charles and gained a high profile for her humanitarian work and the support she gave to various charities. After her marriage broke down, she continued to remain in the public limelight until her untimely death, whilst chased by the paparazzi.

The Beatles were a legendary rock group that formed in Liverpool, England, in 1960, and went on to transform popular music as a creative, highly commercial art form over the next decade. The Beatles were one of the most popular bands of all time, producing songs like "Yesterday, "Hey Jude," "Penny Lane, "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," "Day Tripper" and "Come Together“, “Let it be”.

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