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The Union Jack or
Union Flag is the national flag of the
United Kingdom. The flag also has an
official or semi-official status in some
other Commonwealth realms; for example,
it is, by parliamentary resolution, a
ceremonial flag in Canada and known
there as the Royal Union Flag.
Further, it is used as an official flag
in some of the smaller British overseas
territories. The Union Flag also appears
in the canton (upper left-hand quarter)
of the flags of several nations and
territories that are former British
possessions or dominions. |
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The Royal
Standard of the United Kingdom
refers to either one of two similar
flags used by Queen Elizabeth II in her
capacity as Sovereign of the United
Kingdom and its overseas territories.
Two versions of the flag exist, one for
general use in England, Northern
Ireland, Wales and overseas; and the
other for use in Scotland.
Although almost universally called a
standard, such flags when used in the
United Kingdom are banners of arms, as
they comprise the shield of the Royal
Arms. Since the 1960s, Queen Elizabeth
II has had several personal flags
designed for her use as sovereign of
certain Commonwealth realms.
The Royal Standard of the United
Kingdom is flown when the Queen is in
residence in one of the royal palaces
and on her car, ship or aeroplane. |
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United Kingdom |
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The United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(usually shortened to the United Kingdom
or the UK) is a political union of the
four constituent countries (or Home
Nations) of England, Scotland, and Wales
on the island of Great Britain, and
Northern Ireland on the island of
Ireland. |
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Great Britain |
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Great Britain is an island lying off the
north-western coast of Europe and to the
east of Ireland, comprising the main
territory of the United Kingdom. Great
Britain is also used as a political term
describing the combination of the
countries England, Scotland and Wales,
which together comprise the entire
island and include some outlying
islands. |
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England |
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England is the
largest and most populous home nation of
the United Kingdom. It accounts for more
than 83% of the total UK population,
occupies most of the southern two-thirds
of the island of Great Britain and
shares land borders with Scotland to the
north and Wales to the west. Elsewhere,
it is bordered by the North Sea, Irish
Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and English
Channel. |
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Scotland |
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Scotland (Alba in
Gaelic) is a nation in northwest Europe
and a constituent country of the United
Kingdom. The country occupies the
northern third of the island of Great
Britain, shares a land border to the
south with England, and is bounded by
the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic
Ocean to the north and west, and the
North Channel and Irish Sea to the
south-west. |
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Wales |
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Wales (Welsh: Cymru;
pronounced approximately "COME-ree") is
one of the four constituent nations of
the United Kingdom. Wales is located in
the south-west of Great Britain and is
bordered by the English counties of
Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and
Gloucestershire to the east, the Bristol
Channel to the south, St George's
Channel to the southwest, and the Irish
Sea to the west and north. |
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Republic of Ireland |
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The Republic of
Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) is
the official description of the
sovereign state which covers
approximately five-sixths of the island
of Ireland, off the coast of north-west
Europe. |
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Northern Ireland |
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Northern Ireland is
one of the four constituent parts of the
United Kingdom. While the remaining
three constituents, Scotland, Wales and
England are regarded as "nations", the
application of the term to Northern
Ireland is highly disputed. All
constituents of the United Kingdom
(except England) have systems of
devolved government. |
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United Kingdom - Explained
