♤ United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales.

♤ The designation "Great Britain," in the sense of "Larger Britain," dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from "Little Britain," or Brittany in modern France

♤ 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act established current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

♤ The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface