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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10

u/niconpat Ireland Feb 21 '17

Their flag doesn't represent Wales.

3

u/Areshian Spaniard back in Spain Feb 21 '17

This. I always wondered (since I learned what the Union Jack represented) how the Welsh are not totally pissed off. FFS, they have a dragon in their flag and is the only one they left out when making the UK flag? What the hell where they thinking?

6

u/PTRJK United Kingdom Feb 22 '17

Because Wales was effectively part of England in 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Wales didn't officially have a Welsh national flag until 1959.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17

Being subject to the same laws and whatever European royal family you lot were worshipping didn't make Wales part of England.

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u/ThatOtherAndy United Kingdom Feb 22 '17

You're right, being formally annexed by the Kingdom of England did that.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17 edited Feb 22 '17

Being formally annexed to the crown of England doesn't mean that Wales *became a part of the country of England.

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u/WeighWord Britannia Feb 22 '17

Legally, you did. Countries exist by law.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17

Good old punitive laws! Didn't work, we're still here!

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u/WeighWord Britannia Feb 22 '17 edited Feb 22 '17

Yeah, and you're still a part of the UK and closely bonded with England. Which is good. I'm very fond of Wales and the Welsh.

e: a word

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '17 edited Feb 22 '17

You won't like my plan for independence then. I'm going to apply to Putin for funding, and then run a social media campaign under various pseudonyms, (John Smith, Geoff Custard, Keith Saddle, that sort of thing) agitating that Wales doesn't pay it's way, and that the land of hope and *Tories would be better off rid. Get it in the Mail, will of the people, and then no more Westminster (for us at least)!

PS. Don't tell anyone about it!

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u/WeighWord Britannia Feb 22 '17

Everybody's rootin' for Putin

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