The United Kingdom is actually a union of four distinct nationalities, composed of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This union is aptly named as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and flies a unified national flag known locally as the Union Flag or more popularly, the Union Jack.
The current design of the
United Kingdom flag was devised during the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. Although the original union of Wales and England (1536) previously was represented by the red cross of Saint George (the patron saint of England), with the white edging and superimposed on the Cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are then wholly superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).
In 1922 Ireland freed itself from British rule and seceded from the union leaving the volatile Northern Ireland who opted to remain as a province of the United Kingdom. As of the moment, the United Kingdom has a total land area of 242,910 square kilometers and a population of over 60million, about 49million of which lives in and around England. London the capital is home to over 9million residents.
The word "industrial revolution" was born in Britain in the 18th century, thus making it the first industrialized nation of the world.
The economy of the United Kingdom is dependent on its industry (machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, and ship building); agricultural products (cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, cattle, fish); and exports (manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverage, and tobacco).
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy and the most important head of state is her royal highness, the Queen.
by:
The Flagman
