The Difference between Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and England

[FatherWilliam57]

Got it! That was awesome!

[O'Callaghan]

The changes from subject to citizen occurred when the British Nationality Act of 1961 came into force in 1983.

More detail can be seen at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject .

I haven't read the link, but it set out categories of British Citizen either with or without right of abode in the UK, as well as British Dependent Territories Citizen and British Overseas Citizen, as well as abolishing the status of British Subject.

[OC Richard]

American ignorance of all this came to the fore during the (mens) World Cup in South Africa, where US reporters made all sorts of absurd gaffes.

I'll never forget the news segment in which an American reporter wrapped herself in a Union Jack and strode into the England supporters' campground and asked everyone what they felt about Britain's chances.

The England supporters were either too polite, or too taken aback, to point out that Britain had no team in the World Cup.

I heard, over the course of the World Cup, hundreds of references by US reporters to the "British team" and saw t-shirts saying "England World Cup" but having an image of a Union Jack.

[O'Callaghan]

It's very common even in England to see the Union flag together with the word England. Wrong, but common. The red on white cross of St. George is the proper English flag. That said, the Saxons are said to have flown a red flag with a white dragon, and their patron saint was not St. George, but St. Edmund.

OTOH. I was taught in school that the flags of the patron saints are the proper flags for Wales and Scotland too, but that isn't really true. The white on blue saltire of St. Andrew is often used to represent Scotland, but there is also a yellow Scottish flag with a red lion and a red border. Similiarly, the real Welsh flag has a red dragon on a background that has white for the upper half and green for the lower half, and is not the red on white St. David's saltire. You can imagine why England would want to suppress the older flags, though.

[EagleJCS]

there is also a yellow Scottish flag with a red lion and a red border.

That's actually the flag of the sovereign of Scotland. Per Lord Lyon:

"The 'Lion Rampant' Flag
This is not a national flag and its use by citizens and corporate bodies is entirely wrong.

Gold, with a red rampant lion and royal tressure, it is the Scottish Royal banner, and its correct use is restricted to only a few Great Officers who officially represent The Sovereign, including;

•the First Minister as Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland,
•Lord Lieutenants in their Lieutenancies,
•the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,
•the Lord Lyon King of Arms,
•and other lieutenants specially appointed.
Its use by other, non-authorised persons is an offence under the Act of Parliament 1672 cap. 47 and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17."


That it is not prosecuted and generally treated as expression of patriotism is beside the point. Its use by others than those listed above is not correct.

[English Bloke]

The flag of St David. (Baner Dewi Sant)


St David's day parade in Cardiff (Not my picture)

[PEEDYC]

I'm no longer confused ..... well maybe a bit ..... Oh H.... I still don't understand!

It is true about us "Brits" we are either Scots, Irish, Welsh or English first. I had a discussion with some Dutch people who said they were European and were very surprised when I said I was Scottish and my friend replied that he was English when asked our Nationality.

[English Bloke]

I used to be a European. It's not all it's cracked up to be.

[Father Bill]

Heck, I used to be human. Now I sometimes wonder!

[Phil]

I used to be confused ... but now I'm not so sure.

It is true about us "Brits" we are either Scots, Irish, Welsh or English first.

I would disagree with this, however, on 2 counts,
1. Irish are not and never have been British, Britain is the big bit across the Irish Sea from them
2. I was brought up to think of myself as British from Scotland - a concept difficult for foreigners to understand as they continually seem to regard the whole place as England. No doubt due to the old movies who seem to labour under the same misconception.