Talk:United Kingdom/Archive1

Not a nation-state
If the UK is composed of both British and Irish people, who are of differing nations, then it should not be referred to as a "nation-state." It is a multinational state. Researcher 19:41, 28 December 2007 (EST)
 * Indeed. There are four actual countries: England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Whilst Wales is technically a Principality of England, it does has its own language, laws and Assembly. Spica 19:45, 28 December 2007 (EST)
 * Moreover, the Welsh identify as seperate from the rest, correct? And even if the Welsh, Scottish, and English all preferred to be called British, it still leaves the Irish feeling like the odd ones out. Researcher 19:51, 28 December 2007 (EST)
 * Yah, indeed the Welsh do identify themselves as separate. They even have their own Welsh Nationalist political party, as do the Scots. The English have one two (the BNP) but it's far too fascistic for most voters. Spica 19:54, 28 December 2007 (EST)
 * I'z Welshish. I have no idea what this brings to the conversation. human  01:16, 29 December 2007 (EST)
 * Wales is in the strange position of being a country, but not a nation.-- 18:49, 25 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Actually it is a nation, but not a country. (necro!) 15:01, 1 December 2018 (UTC)

Pedantry
"The Flag Institute, the vexillological organisation for the United Kingdom, stated that the term Union Flag is a "relatively recent idea". Jack was a word previously used to denote any flag" 17:52, 25 October 2010 (UTC)
 * "The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and colonies, it is possible that the term "Jack" occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the "Jack Staff""
 * This I think would be consistent with the apparent tradition that it's only called a Jack properly on a ship. The Royal Navy being the size it was back in the day, and the UK's general aversion to flag fellatio in comparison to the US, I wouldn't be surprised if the most common way that people ever saw the flag was as an actual Jack. As if the name slipped sideways into common landlubber terminology. 18:36, 25 October 2010 (UTC)

More Pedantry
The article says Wales is still a principality, but didn't it change to a full country of the union about five years back to comply with an ISO? Leander (talk) 20:34, 2 February 2015 (UTC)

Renaming the United Kingdom
For 123(isn) of the past 175 years since Victoria ascended the throne, the UK has been rained (sic) over by a Queen (and may Bessie move somewhat up the list of longest reigning monarchs).

Should it be renamed the United Queendom? 212.85.6.26 (talk) 16:37, 14 August 2012 (UTC)

Shakespeare, Aristophanes and the current food scandal
'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a bottle of oil.'

(With thanks to Richard III and The Frogs.' 171.33.222.26 (talk) 16:50, 11 February 2013 (UTC)