What is the formal name of the United Kingdom?
Q: What is the formal name of the United Kingdom?
A: The formal name of the United Kingdom is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". It is usually shortened to "the United Kingdom", "The UK", "Great Britain" or just "Britain".
Q: How did England, Scotland, and Wales become united?
A: The Acts of Union in 1707 united the crowns and Parliaments of England and Scotland to create (the United Kingdom of) Great Britain. At this time, Wales was legally part of the Kingdom of England, with representation (since 1536) in the English Parliament, so it was included in the union.
Q: When did Ireland join Great Britain?
A: Further Acts of Union in 1800 joined Great Britain and Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Q: What happened when Ireland gained independence?
A: In 1922, when Ireland gained independence, only Northern Ireland continued to be part of the United Kingdom. As a result, in 1927 Britain changed its formal title to "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Q: Is Northern Ireland still part of the UK?
A: Yes, Northern Ireland is still part of the UK.
