United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom
Offical Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Popularly known as the United Kingdom, UK, Great Britain, or Britian.
Capital: London
Abbreviation: UK
The United Kingdom's government is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king or queen of the royal family. Elizabeth II (1952-2022) is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. In 2022, Charles III reigh as king of the United Kingdom begain in 2022.
The government is run by a prime minister and the members of Parliament.
Queen Elizabeth II
The United Kingdom is a sovereign country in western Europe located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe.
The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland (who together make up Great Britain) and Northern Ireland.
The United Kingdom Video
The British Isles is a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe. It consist of the of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland and over thousands of smaller islands. The British Isles is made up of two different nations: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries - England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom's land area is made up of the island of Great Britain - which contains England. Wales, and Scotland — as well as the northern portion of the island of Ireland.
National Symbols of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom flag is popularly called the "Union Jack" or "Union Flag". The United Kingdom flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK flag is made up made up of three different national symbols: St. Georges Cross, St. Andrew's Cross, and St. Patrick's Cross.
The United Kingdom flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK flag is made up made up of three different national symbols: St. Georges Cross, St. Andrew's Cross, and St. Patrick's Cross.
St. George's Cross (England)
St. Andrew's Cross (Scotland)
St. Patrick's Cross (Ireland)
Why doesn't the Welsh dragon appear on the Union Jack?
When the first Union Jack was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England. Wales was annexed by England in the 13th century and was considered a part of the Kingdom of England.
The Kingdom Royal Coat of Arms, or Royal Arms for short, is a coat of arms that is used by the monarch. Other versions of the Royal Arms is used by the government and a separate version is for use in Scotland.
Make Your Own Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms template
Coat of Arms Images, Symbols, and Colors
UK National Anthem
God Save the Queen" is the national anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When the reigning monarch is male, it's referred to as "God Save the King."
Ancient History
Bronze Age 2500 - 700 BCE
The Beaker People migrates and settles in England. They are called the Beaker People because of the shape of the pottery vessels which are so often found in their round barrow graves.
Bell Beaker pottery vessels shaped like a reversed bell from southwestern Germany.
Stonehenge site was before the Bronze Age, built sometime around 2800 B.C.E. The Beaker People began the process of building a double ring of stones inside the henge. These "bluestones" were transported all the way from southern Wales, a distance of several hundred miles
The Iron Age (700BCE - 43CE)
During the Iron Age people took to farming in permanent fields and to living in protected hill forts. Maiden Castle in Dorset is typical of a large protected hill fort
The Celts (600 BCE - 50CE)
Many of Britain's Celts came from Gaul, driven from their homelands by the Roman armies and Germanic tribes.
England Video
Roman Britain (43 CE to 410CE)
The first Roman invasion of the British Isles took place in 55 B.C. under war leader Julius Caesar, who returned one year later, but this did not lead to any significant or permanent occupation
In 43 CE Emperor Claudius ordered an expedition against Britain. He sent his general, Aulus Plautius, and an army of 40,000 men. The Romans pushed west to a line from Exeter to Lincoln, and by 60CE controlled most of Britain south of the Humber. They pushed north into Scotland, they decided to build a gigantic wall, Hadrian's Wall, to control the frontier. They were to remain for nearly 400 years.
Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, led a revolt against the Roman military in 60-61CE.
Hadrian's Wall Video
England
The flag of England has a white background with a red cross, and is known as the St. George's Cross.
Capital: London
With over 55 million inhabitants, England is the most populated country in the United Kingdom.
The River Thames is longest river found entirely in England and is the second longest river in the United Kingdom.
The longest river in the United Kingdom is the River Severn which is located in England and Wales.
Buckingham Palace is the official London home of the monarchy.
The British Monarchy official web site
Learn about the British Monarchy through the ages. Take a stroll and
learn the history of many castles and palaces of the United Kingdom.
Museum of London
Tells the fascinating story of London from prehistoric times to the present day.
The national flower of England is the rose-the Tudor Rose which is half white and half red.
The Tudor Rose, also known as the Rose of England, takes its name from the Tudor dynasty. It was adopted as England's emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses and merges a white rose (representing the Yorkists) and a red rose (representing the Lancastrians).
During the Wars of the Roses, these two sides went to war over control of the royal house. The Wars of the Roses was a long drawn out war between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet--the House of York and the House of Lancaster. They fought over the throne of England. The Wars of the Roses lasted 32 years from 1455 to 1485 with sporadic battles.
Make
Tudor Rose
Use paper or fabric to create a Tudor Rose.
People
Tim Berners-Lee - Computer scientist credited with being the inventor of the World Wide Web
England is famous for its literary works and authors. To name a few: Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, Harry Potter, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Alice in Wonderland. The most famous author in all the world William Shakespeare was from England.
Scotland
The flag of Scotland has a blue background with a white x-shaped cross (saltire). The saltire is an heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross. The cross represents the cross of the parton saint of Scotland; Saint Andrew. The flag is also know as Saint Andrew's Cross.
Capital: Edinburgh
There is no official national anthem of Scotland. Scotland is part of the UK and "God Save the Queen" is the national anthem for the United Kingdom as a whole and is used in Scotland in that context. However, a number of songs are used as unofficial Scottish anthems. "Flower of Scotland" is one song which unofficially fulfills this role and is used frequently at special occasions and sporting events.
Flower of Scotland Video
In Scotland men wear kilts, which is a form of national clothing that is a symbol of honor. The tartan (a Scottish wool woven in a wide range of checked or plaid patterns) kilt of Scotland was a way of identifying family clans. Each clan had their own pattern. a Scottish wool woven in a wide range of checked or plaid patterns.
Scotland's national instrument is the bagpipes
Bagpipes Video
The national flower of Scotland is the thistle.
The most identifiable symbols of Scotland is the tartan and the thistle. How did the prickly purple thistle win the hearts of the Scots? No one knows. There is a legend that the army of King Haakon of Norway was intent on conquering the Scots. During the night to move quietly the Norse removed their footwear. The sleeping Scottish warriors were saved from an ambush by the invading Norse army when one of the attackers stepped on a thistle with his bare feet, and shrieked out in pain. The Scots won the day. There is no historical evidence for this legend, but it is a good story and might be true or not.
Learn more about Scotland coloring pages
Animal
An animal native to Scotland is the Scottish Highland cattle. Scottish Highland cattle are a rugged breed of cattle bred for the harsh conditions of the Scottish Highlands. They have long horns and are covered in long wavy hair with a forelock of long hair which almost covers their eyes. Highland cattle can be the color black, brindled (brown or grey streaked or patched with a darker color), red, yellow, dun (yellow brown). The Highland cattle's hair gives protection during the cold harsh winters.
Sites to See
Landscapes
With the friendly guide Goggs tour the landscapes of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Also, learn geographical terms and map skills.
The Lore of the Orkney Islands has collected a number of essays and stories about odd things from the land to the sea. From the hogboon to selkies, vanishing islands to ghosts, there is a variety of folklore at this site.
Recommended Book
Katie Morag's Island Stories
by Mairi Hedderwick
The Katie Morag books tell of a flamed hair young girl on the fictional Isle of Struay, off the west coast of Scotland. Whether she's helping Grannie with a winning sheep, posting parcels to the wrong addresses, having problems with a troublesome teddy, or getting up to no good with her badly behaved cousins, Katie Morag is always up to something. This collection includes Katie Morag Delivers the Mail, Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers, Katie Morag and the Tiresome Ted, and Katie Morag and the Big Boy Cousins. The stories are utterly charming!
Wales
The flag of Wales is a red dragon on a green and white background. Wales: History of the Welsh Flags.
The national flower of Wales is the daffodil. The daffodil blooms in the early Spring. The daffodil begins to bloom around March 1st. It has come to symbolize St. David's Day, the patron saint of Wales. The daffodil is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day, the 1st of March.
Wales is well known for its hills and mountains. Wales is home to the highest mountain in England and Wales, Mt. Snowdon at 1085 meters (3560 feet) high.
Wales has more the 600 castles, more per square km than any other country.
The Welsh language is the oldest language in Britain, possibly dating back 4,000 years. About 20% of people in Wales can speak Welsh. The road signs in Wales are in both Welsh and English. The Welsh alphabet does not contain the letters K. Q, V, X, and Z.
In Wales there is a strong tradition of choral singing.
Only Boys Aloud Video
Make
Paper plate cupcake daffodils
Cut out a star shape from yellow construction paper. Add cupcake liners and rolled paper (green or paint green) to create daffodils.
Make
Build Your Own Medieval Castle
Build a Medieval Castle requires Windows and a printer, Free, 300k. Print out patterns for the castle. Color, cut-out, and assemble a unique paper castle.
People
Robert Recorde (c.1512–1558) was a Welsh physician and mathematician. He invented the equals sign (=).
Northern Ireland
The Union Jack is Northern Ireland's official flag.
Northern Ireland's unofficial flag is known as the Red Hand Flag.
Northern Island Red Hand Flag Video
Capital: Belfast
Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four parts of the United Kingdom. It is often called Ulster because it includes six of the nine counties that made up the ancient kingdom of Ulster.
Ireland is called the Emerald Island, or Emerald Isle, because of its green rolling hills and countryside. Ireland was split into two parts through an act passed by the British Parliament in 1920. Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, is in the northeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The country of Ireland - The Republic of Ireland - takes up the rest of the island.
Partition of Ireland Video
The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock.
Lough Neagh, in the middle of the country, is the largest freshwater lake in Northern Ireland – in fact it's the biggest lake by area in the British Isles.
See Also
