The Monarchy

[Ben Kenobi]

Hey, so England, Scotland, and Wales are separate countries, right?

Yes and No.

The UK is just that, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There is a personal union in the crowns of all four, of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

The Act of Settlement settled the issue of the status of Ireland. Essentially, the King of England, became the King of Ireland, forming the United Kingdom between the two. This happened with George I the first of the Hanoverians, and also established that the settlement was restricted to protestants only.

The Act of Union combined the crowns of Scotland and England, under James VI and I, by the will of Good Queen Bess, who deemed James VI the king of Scotland to be heir presumptive.

Finally, there was the conquest of Wales in the 14th century under Edward I, whereupon Wales became part of the King of England's territory and remained so ever since.

And Great Britain is a higher entity that is comprised of them (plus bits of Ireland and possibly a few islands near and far), right?

Great Britain refers to the state after the Act of Union, between England and Scotland.

For membership issues in EU and UN, Britain is a non-entity, right? Each separate country has its own representation in political organizations?

No, although you could make a case for it from the EU perspective. I don't know how the EU would treat nations that are united under the same crown. WRT to the UN, it wouldn't make any sense.

I'm trying to recall if the 2008 Olympics had England separate from Scotland in competitions.

They never have.

If it were to unravel, and I serious doubt that it would, there are several scenarios. The first, and the only one I can see is the repudiation of the Act of Union, and the restoration of the Jacobins. There really is no reason for the two crowns to be united anymore, not since they declared the Electress Sophia of Hanover to be the requirement to inherit the crown of England. Or Scotland could declare itself a Republic.

Wales, I can't really see it.

[Dinner]

The American flag hasn't really changed in a fundamental way. The number of stars always represented the number of states. Yes, the number of states have changed over time so the number of stars had to change too but the flag itself, it's basic layout, has remained the same.

[Dinner]

I also had considerable problems telling apart the Irish and Scottish accents. I still have difficulty telling apart Newcastle and Scottish accents, despite having lived in Durham for three years.

I always thought that was very easy but given that my dad's entire side of the family are Scots (my grandparents had fairly thick accents too) I suppose that's not surprising. Now trying to figure out which country Spanish speakers come from is a lot harder for me and half the time I'm left guessing.

[Dinner]

The Act of Settlement settled the issue of the status of Ireland. Essentially, the King of England, became the King of Ireland, forming the United Kingdom between the two. This happened with George I the first of the Hanoverians, and also established that the settlement was restricted to protestants only.

Actually the King of Great Britain became the King of Ireland. Because Great Britain was formed by a union of the kingdoms of Scotland and England while the UK was formed with a union of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually the King of Great Britain became the King or Ireland. Because Great Britain was formed by a union of the kingdom of Scotland and England while the UK was formed with a union of Great Britain and Ireland.

Yes, that's true. Thanks for the correction.

[FrostyBoy]

The first time I realized there was a difference was way back in boarding school for General Knowledge quiz night, when the schoolmaster asked what flags were the first to be planted atop Mt. Everest. I'd responded "English" and that was wrong, even though in my mind I'd pictured the Union Jack (which was right).

I also had considerable problems telling apart the Irish and Scottish accents. I still have difficulty telling apart Newcastle and Scottish accents, despite having lived in Durham for three years.

You mean it wasn't a New Zealand flag?

[FrostyBoy]

****, you're right. Bloody Brits.



This reminds me, I need to make a thread

[FrostyBoy]

Forum broken

[FrostyBoy]

Forum broken

[Dauphin]

I'm trying to recall if the 2008 Olympics had England separate from Scotland in competitions.

They do in the Commonwealth Games, rugby, football and a whole bunch of other international competitions.

[MOBIUS]

Technically, the only 'British' in the UK are in fact the Welsh (and Cornish, but they've basically been assimilated by the English).

Also, I might like to add that Mt. Everest is named after a Welshman. I'm quite disappointed that Hillary didn't after all fly the Welsh flag on his ascent - especially after training for the climb in Snowdonia...

[FrostyBoy]

Snowdonia? Sounds like it's straight out of World of Warcraft!

[FrostyBoy]

Is this Snowdonia? Damn, Hillary was a lucky guy.

[MOBIUS]

Snowdonia? Sounds like it's straight out of World of Warcraft!

More like Middle Earth, if we use the Welsh name: Eryri...

And yes, that is Snowdonia taken from the summit of Mt Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh). Probably be up there some time this Summer.

[The Mad Monk]

Does it get snowed on?