United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom, 1801 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Most of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922 as the Irish Free State, and the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 created the present United Kingdom. Its involvement in the First World War and in the Second World War damaged Britain's economic power, and a global wave of decolonisation led to the independence of most British colonies. The UK is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy with three distinct jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Seat of power: London

Rulers

George V

Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1927–1936

In 1931 the Statute of Westminster recognised the Empire's Dominions as separate, independent states within the British Commonwealth of Nations. George suffered from smoking-related health problems during his later reign. On his death in January 1936, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII.

Portrait of George V: Bassano Ltd, Public domain, file

George VI

Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1936–1952

In September 1939 the British Empire and most Commonwealth countries declared war on Nazi Germany, following the invasion of Poland. George VI was seen as sharing the hardships of the common people and his popularity soared. George VI became known as a symbol of British determination to win the war.

Portrait of George VI: Matson Photo Service, Public domain, file

Elizabeth II

Monarch of the United Kingdom, 1952–2022

Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch. She reigned as a constitutional monarch through times of significant political change such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities as well as its subsequent withdrawal. As queen, Elizabeth was advised by more than 170 prime ministers across her realms.

Portrait of Elizabeth II: Donald McKague, Public domain, file

Charles III

Monarch of the United Kingdom, 2022 to today

Charles became king upon his mother's death in 2022. At the age of 73, he was the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history. Significant events of his reign have included his coronation in 2023, his cancer diagnosis in 2024, which temporarily suspended planned public engagements, and the removal of his brother Andrew's remaining titles, styles, and honours in 2025.

Portrait of Charles III: White House, Public domain, file

Culture

Britain is renowned for children's literature; writers include Daniel Defoe, Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and Beatrix Potter, who also illustrated her own books.
The playwright and poet William Shakespeare is generally regarded as the greatest dramatist ever and the national poet of England.
Robert Burns is considered the national poet of Scotland, and Edinburgh was UNESCO's first worldwide City of Literature.
The Elizabeth Tower of the palace houses the bell nicknamed Big Ben and is a landmark of London and the United Kingdom in general.

Picture

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England.

Image: ThatsTheBoss, CC0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.