"And yes you did see the Cross of St George [who never visited England] at the World Cup."

Annhig, you don't believe all that Norman propaganda do you?

The real patron saint:

http://whitedragonflagofengland.com/...tron-saint.php

I think PalenQ has confused the term 'Home Counties' with the term 'HOME COUNTRIES'. The term,'Home Countries ( Synonymous with Home Nations), is used to describe England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, just confuse the issue, in the Six Nations Rugby Football Cup, the term Home Nations refers to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland which with the addition of France and Italy make up the six nations.

Within the Six Nations Cup there are also individual competitions, such as the Calcutta Cup, between England and Scotland, and if one of the Home Nations beats the other three they win 'The Triple Crown', and if one beats the other five they win 'The Grand Slam'!

Let us add more confusion. Anthems. The National Anthem is 'God Save the Queen' or 'King' depending on whether the monarch is a King or Queen. This used in all four countries, and at most official occasions. In addition Wales has a national anthem 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau', however none of England, Scotland or Northern Ireland have one. At sporting events where they are competing individually if they don'tt use the National Anthem, t hey use popular songs, among others, 'Jerusalem' for England, 'Flowers pf Scotland' for Scotland, and 'The Londonderry Air' for Northern Ireland. The Scottish Parliament tried to decide on a national anthem for Scotland but couldn't agree on any one.

Let's not forget the Principality of Sealand!
http://www.sealandgov.org

Seems England is only a country in a few sports - FIFA mainly because soccer was an English invention I believe.

Odd that you can be head of state in the U.K. and not be born there - like William & Mary and the first George who I believe only spoke German- or that dude who led the Norman Invasion - seems heredity trumps being a natural born citizen.

and if Catholic you are banned from becoming head of state? If true that sucks - even a PM like Tony Blair had to be a closet Catholic or face being beheaded I guess.

This getting really boring. Is it the long cold winters in the U.S. that affects Pal's brain? Or is he back on the paint?

Tony Liar was never head of state even though his wife talks to God

<<Odd that you can be head of state in the U.K. and not be born there - like William & Mary and the first George who I believe only spoke German- or that dude who led the Norman Invasion - seems heredity trumps being a natural born citizen.>>

It's all so, so .....un-American!

The Kingdom of England has been in existence since the 10th Century. William 1st, only became king in 1066 by right of conquest.

As least England hasn't yet had a half-caste as King or Queen..

>>The National Anthem is 'God Save the Queen' or 'King' depending on whether the monarch is a King or Queen. <<

It is commonly accepted as such, but no-one has ever legislated that it has to be used as such or performed on any particular occasion . AFAIK, the Palace only says it is customary. We could, if we chose, just as easily use songs about some other common uniting factor, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=SE5IfIkl_oA

>>As least England hasn't yet had a half-caste as King or Queen..<<

What is that supposed to mean?

I was using the term I was brought up to use as a child, in these political correct days perhaps I should have said 'mixed race'.

PalenQ says that a Catholic is barred from becoming head of state. The reason for this is simple, the Queen (or King) is Head of the Church of England and has the title 'Defender of the Faith'. The Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, which are the defining statements of doctrine of the Church of England, state (Article XXVII). The Bishop of Rome has no jurisdiction in the realm of England.

So as well as papists, but also other members of a Christian churches, such as Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, United Free Church are barred, as, of course are Jews. Muslims, Hindus, Bhuddists etc, etc.

Can an atheist become King of Queen?

It's all so, so .....un-American!> Yes that's why the Mayr of London can becomethe President of the U.S. since he was born in New York - until re renounces his citiznship as he says he will I guess.

As least England hasn't yet had a half-caste as King or Queen..>

George W Bush it is said has more English royal blood that does the current Queen - he gets it thru his mum - a Walker and his father, a Bush - so in theory Britain could have had an idiot as a king and indeed has on many occasions - ah hereditary monarchies where dolts often ascend the thrones rather than more capable royals - George W Bush could well have been your King - King George the VIII I guess.

Funny last night on Jeopardy quiz show the question was "In Shakespeare's works what country besides England was the setting of the most of the Bard's plays (answer Italy) - but they used country - this technically could have been correct when those plays were written before the Union of England and Scotland or as I surmise folks - Americans - generally think of Britain as England and England as a country - same as Great Britain is - not making any distinctions between the U.K. and England and we thing of the Queen of England not the Queen of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Berwick-on-tweed.

It's all England to many.

<<I was using the term I was brought up to use as a child, in these political correct days perhaps I should have said 'mixed race'.>>

If i may presume to talk for Patrick, i think that it was probably the "at least' that he took exception to, with its somewhat pejorative overtones.

And you are wrong about the reason for catholics being banned from acceding to the throne. there was no prohibition until the Act of Settlement of 1701, which specifically made Sophie, electress of Hannover the successor to Queen Anne, in order to cut out of the succession the catholic heirs of James II who had been replaced by his sister Mary and her husband William or Orange, when he fled, his catholicism having made him deeply unpopular with his subjects.

Mary's sister, Queen Anne, died without heir [having borne 17 children, all of whom died young] so Sophie would have been next were it not for the fact that she died too, so in 1714 [just over 300 years ago] George, Elector of Hannover became George I, thus founding the Georgian era and giving us, amongst other things, Handel's Messiah, Brighton Pavilion, Queen Victoria, Christmas Trees, Kaiser Wilhelm, WWI and even, possibly, WW2.

I am not sure that there is any prohibition as such on jews, moslems, hindus or atheists becoming monarch [perhaps you have a reference for that]. They would of course have to swear to uphold the Church of England which might prove difficult unless they converted.

"In his or her coronation oath, the Sovereign promises to maintain the Church.
The Sovereign must be in communion with the Church of England, that is, a full, confirmed member.
The Preface to the 39 Articles of the Church of England describes the monarch as 'being by God's Ordinance, according to Our just Title, Defender of the Faith and ... Supreme Governor of the Church of England".

Funny that a woman could be Head of the Church of England but until recently at least women could not become priests or vicars or whatever they call their ministers - kind of the ultimate irony.

And complete philanderers anf murderers could be the head of thh COE - weird. You can have that type of church as I think the head of a church should be beyond reproach morally.

PalenQ writes "And complete philanderers anf murderers could be the head of thh COE - weird. You can have that type of church as I think the head of a church should be beyond reproach morally."

What about the Borgia popes?

However, to go back to the original query. 'Is England a Country?'


The answer is 'Yes', and has been for over a thousand years,

P I think you are getting confused

"In Shakespeare's works what country besides England was the setting of the most of the Bard's plays (answer Italy)"

Italy was not a country when Will was a lad, it only became so recently.

Jeopardy siad that not me - what country and the answer was Italy - I think they meant today's countries and included England in that.