r/europe • u/MarktpLatz Lower Saxony (Germany) • Feb 21 '17

What do you know about... the UK?

This is the sixth part of our ongoing weekly series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The UK is the second most populous state in the EU. Famous for once being the worlds leading power, reigning over a large empire, it has recently taken the decision to exit the EU.

So, what do you know about the UK?

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u/CriticalSpirit The Netherlands Feb 21 '17 edited Feb 22 '17

They're so close yet so far away. I live 300 kilometers from London, but it feels like it's on the other side of the continent, because I can't easily get there by car. They are a seafaring and trading nation, just like us. We used to share a King.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17

Wait, we shared a king with you guys? Which one and how far back?

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u/Tomnezz United Kingdom Feb 22 '17

William Of Orange, 1689-1702 basically the English elite weren't happy with the catholic King James and so 'invited' William, a protestant, to invade.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17

The English elite and James' own daughters.