Great Britain lies just off the coast of mainland Europe. Scotland, England* and Wales are three different countries that make up Great Britain (GB), but add Northern Ireland and you have the United Kingdom (UK).



The United Kingdom also has several overseas territories, including Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands(Islas Malvinas). The dependencies of the Isle of Man and theChannel Islands* , while possessions of the Crown and part of the British Isles, are not part of the United Kingdom. A constitutional monarchy, the United Kingdom has close relationships with fifteen other Commonwealth Realms that share the same monarch .