UK Jubbers

[gmoney]

I have a question that's going to make me look extremely stupid, but I will ask anyway.

What's the difference between Great Britian and United Kingdom? I always thought both were the same and meant the combined countries of Scotland, Ireland, and England. Now a friend is trying to tell me the United Kingdom is just England. I hope some UK Jubbers can clear this up for me.

 

[HaraKiri]

Your friend is wrong.

Remember Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (that's the one who got beheaded)? After the death of QEI her nephew James I, King of the Scots (and son of Mary) became King of England, thus forming a personal union between both countries (since 1603). This merely means that they had the same monarch in common - nothing else.

It was only in 1707 with the "Act of Union" that both kingdoms united into one kingdom, creating the "United Kingdom". In 1800 Ireland joined the Union. In the 1920s the Republic of Ireland left the Union.

Back to your question:
"Great Britain" consists of Scotland, England and Wales,
"The United Kingdom" consists of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. To be exact: Also Gibraltar and other Overseas Territories belong to the UK. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (in the Irish Sea) have statuses of their own: I'm not quite sure, but I think they do accept the Queen as Head of State but do not belong to the UK.

 

[tonyboy]

Harakiri is exactly right. Sorry buttplug.
The UK and Great Britian are two different entities. Related they are, but the two terms mean different things.

 

[PeterPeterPeter]

When I go to the USA and I have to fill in the immigration form, I never know what to put for my country of residence: Britain, Great Britain, United Kingdom or England.

Personally, I prefer England...though I think you're meant to put Great Britain.

 

[slobone]

When I go to the USA and I have to fill in the immigration form, I never know what to put for my country of residence: Britain, Great Britain, United Kingdom or England.

Personally, I prefer England...though I think you're meant to put Great Britain.

What does it say on your passport?

 

[gmoney]

Just looking for more input.

 

[winterknight]

Okay, here goes:

"Great Britain" is the large island immediately north of France which the Romans called "Brittania" and the local Celts referred to as "Albion"

"England" is the portion of Great Britain south of the line between Carlisle and Berwick and east of the Rever Severn, plus the Isle of Wight, which William the Bastard conquered in 1066.

"The United Kingdom" is the country established by the Acts of Union of 1707 and 1801, as amended in 1922, comprising the whole of Great Britain plus the Isle of Wight, The Scillies, the Hebrides, Anglesey, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, the six north-easternmost counties of Ireland, and a number of other small islands off the coast of these..

The "British Isles" is a purely geographical term referring to the whole of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, plus the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which although dependant on the UK are not legally a part of it. (Certain Irish citizens dispute this on Nationalistic grounds, but it's accurate from a purely Geographic standpoint)

The correct thing to put on your passport, officially, is "British".

 

[JakeBequette]

Now a friend is trying to tell me the United Kingdom is just England.

Ok, whoever that is, is STUPID!!!!​

 

[Jeimuzu]

When you're not sure where you live on a government form, just put English. From that, they'd instantly know you were Great Britain anyways, if that's what they need, and whereas if you put British on a form, and they need England, they're gonna have to ask you to clarify where in Britain.

 

[slobone]

What is your nationality:

Scottish
Welsh
Irish
British
Other


Erm... WTF? Where's ENGLISH.

Under "other", innit?

 

[JakeBequette]

Ok, whoever that is, is STUPID!!!!​

Very Very stoopid ​

 

[Nonimus]

Erm... WTF? Where's ENGLISH.

I was born in England, I live in England.. im a god damned Englishman.

If the Scots can be Scottish, the Welsh Welsh, and the Irishmen Irish.. why cant i be an Englishman.

Piss and Moan, Piss and Moan, Moan whilst pissing then piss some more then Moan!

 

[winterknight]

Piss and Moan, Piss and Moan, Moan whilst pissing then piss some more then Moan!

Hey! That's my job!

Get your own gimmick!

 

[just_mills]

I wrote "England" on my passport renewal this year but it still came back "British".

Same for me, also!