# The end of the United Kingdom...........could come as soon as 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175 "2012-01-11T16:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/81 "2012-01-15T02:54:17Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Is Prince Charlie coming back? I thought the talk was about skipping over him and going right to Prince William? (Though I don’t see how you do that without changing the laws.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/82 "2012-01-15T03:05:27Z")
Prince Charles and Prince Charlie are two different people. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/83 "2012-01-15T04:24:51Z")
And Prince Charlie is long dead. The current claimant is Fraz Duke of Bavaria. Who I think would perfer his Alpine location to the Scottish Highlands. It has the distinct advantage of not having to be Alec Salmond’s peon. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/84 "2012-01-15T05:09:32Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > “Britain” is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom [of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]. In casual usage, “Britain” and “Great Britain” are often two different things—the former being the United Kingdom and the latter meaning the geographical island. Just to confuse matters “Great Britain” can be used exactly the same way as “Britain”. President Obama, for one, referred to GB as an ally. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/85 "2012-01-15T05:38:24Z")
Great Britain as a description for the whole UK seems to have fallen out of favour in the last 50 or so years, about the same time as UK came into common use. The Americans are as usual behind the times, but then again, they were a colony of Great Britain/England ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/86 "2012-01-15T06:31:54Z")
Americans’ only exposure to the concept of ‘it’s not just England’ is every other year when the Olympics rolls around… and the athletes compete as ‘Great Britain’. No wonder the poor dears are befuddled. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/87 "2012-01-15T13:26:46Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I thought the talk was about skipping over him and going right to Prince William? > (Though I don’t see how you do that without changing the laws.) Quite - I never understand where this “talk” comes from. The whole point of a monarchy is you don’t get to pick who it is. ---
**Author:** ![tetranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@tetranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetranz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/88 "2012-01-15T18:17:39Z")
About The Commonwealth > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > There is no trade involved, and the Queen visits Canada and Australia frequently (compared to other countries) because she’s the Queen of Canada and the Queen of Australia. Either country could leave the Commonwealth and not change that fact. They don’t get any special trade rules with the UK, and the “special relationship” is pretty much limited to having a high commissioner instead of an ambassador. I know the Queen is only head of state of a minority of members but I think all countries where she is head of state are members of The Commonwealth. Whilst you’re probably right in that Australia, Canada, NZ etc could leave The Commonwealth and keep the Queen, that would seem highly unlikely and I think it would be a first. It’s hard to imagine why a country would want to leave The Commonwealth other than perhaps as a protest over a major policy dispute, It’s much more likely that Australia or NZ will become a republic one day but stay in The Commonwealth. The only special relationship I’m aware of is I think the UK allows young citizens of a Commonwealth country to live and work in the UK until, I think, age 28. I think that is still in effect. It helps enable the typical “big OE” (overseas experience) for many young kiwis and ozzies. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/89 "2012-01-15T19:18:23Z")
I think prior to 1948-1949, it was assumed that all members of the Commonwealth would recognize the English monarch as their heads of state. I believe it was when Ireland and India became republics that it was clarified that this would not be mandatory for membership. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/90 "2012-01-16T17:28:26Z")
> [@tetranz](#): > > The only special relationship I’m aware of is I think the UK allows young citizens of a Commonwealth country to live and work in the UK until, I think, age 28. I think that is still in effect. It helps enable the typical “big OE” (overseas experience) for many young kiwis and ozzies. Yes it is, it’s the two-year Working Holidaymaker visa. My industry (design/advertising) is flooded with Commonwealth citizens on this two year visa, although for some reason they mostly seem to come from Oz/NZ/South Africa/Canada (perhaps because they are English speaking countries which would make it easier to get work). ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/91 "2012-01-16T17:29:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I think prior to 1948-1949, it was assumed that all members of the Commonwealth would recognize the English monarch as their heads of state. I believe it was when Ireland and India became republics that it was clarified that this would not be mandatory for membership. Well, Ireland never wanted to join the Commonwealth, but I take your point for India. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/92 "2012-01-16T17:32:59Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Great Britain as a description for the whole UK seems to have fallen out of favour in the last 50 or so years, about the same time as UK came into common use. The Americans are as usual behind the times, but then again, they were a colony of Great Britain/England Oh, I don’t know, I still hear it a lot. UK/GB seems to be used pretty interchangeably, although GB excludes Northern Ireland so perhaps isn’t terribly PC. Mind you, the UK is choc full with these inconsistencies (such as the England & Wales cricket board calling the team ‘England’, to the delight of the Welsh I’m sure). ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/93 "2012-01-16T18:25:37Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Yes it is, it’s the two-year Working Holidaymaker visa. My industry (design/advertising) is flooded with Commonwealth citizens on this two year visa, although for some reason they mostly seem to come from Oz/NZ/South Africa/Canada (perhaps because they are English speaking countries which would make it easier to get work). IIRC Commonwealth citizens also gain the right to vote and hold public office after living in the UK for a year without having to actually become British citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/94 "2012-01-17T01:05:08Z")
> [@Baffle](#): > > Americans’ only exposure to the concept of ‘it’s not just England’ is every other year when the Olympics rolls around… and the athletes compete as ‘Great Britain’. No wonder the poor dears are befuddled. You guys compete in the Olympics? Really? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/95 "2012-01-17T08:01:05Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You guys compete in the Olympics? Really? ::I KNOW I should let this go but I just caaaan’t:: For the record, in Beijing we finished 4th to your 2nd in the medal table, behind China, USA and Russia, which means medals per head of population makes us the most successful country at the Olympics. So your point is…? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/96 "2012-01-17T09:38:36Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > So your point is…? Knowing **Zebra** , that we’re really easy to rile, which you’ve nicely demonstrated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175/97 "2012-01-17T11:19:29Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > ::I KNOW I should let this go but I just caaaan’t:: > > For the record, in Beijing we finished 4th to your 2nd in the medal table, behind China, USA and Russia, which means medals per head of population makes us the most successful country at the Olympics. So your point is…? Psssst…I[think the Bahamas, Jamaica and another 24 countries](http://www.medalspercapita.com/) might have something to say about that. We are still ahead of those big three…but just look at the buggers in 5th place, the swines! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-united-kingdom-could-come-as-soon-as-2014/609175.md?page=4)