The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two big islands and many small ones. The two main islands are Great Britain and Ireland. They are separated by the Irish Sea. Many years ago the British Isles were the part of the continent. Now they are separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. In the east the British Isles are washed by the North Sea. In the west they are washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
The United Kingdom consists of four parts. They are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. London is the capital of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland.
The flag of the United Kingdom is called the Union Jack. The national emblem of England is the red rose. The national emblem of Scotland is the thistle. The national emblem of Wales is the daffodil. The national emblem of Ireland is the shamrock.
More than 56 million people live in the UK. The English live in England and they speak the English language. The Scots live in Scotland and they speak the Scottish language. The Welsh live in Wales and they speak the Welsh language. The Irish live in Ireland and they speak the Irish language.
In Britain the Queen is the Head of State. She doesn’t rule, because she has no power. The real power in the country belongs to the British Government. The Queen is the symbol of the country. She is very rich. She travels about the country, meets different people and visits schools, hospitals and other places.
