Random Fact No. 25

Shoelaces were invented in England in 1790.

Random Fact No. 24

The first public zoo anywhere was opened in London in 1829.

Random Fact No. 23

French was the official language of England from 1066 to 1362 -- about 300 years.

Random Fact No. 22

The Great Fire of London caused only eight deaths.

Random Fact No. 21

There are over 300 languages spoken by the people of England.

Random Fact No. 20

Football (soccer) is England's best-loved sport.

Random Fact No. 19

The Queen owns the largest art collection in the world.

Random Fact No. 18

The London Eye is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe.

Random Fact No. 17

The Queen speaks French fluently.

Random Fact No. 16

England is 74 times smaller than the United States.

Random Fact No. 15

London is, at 12 million inhabitants, the largest city in Europe.

Random Fact No. 15

In England, instead of 'stuffed animal', plush toys are known as 'cuddly toys'.

Random Fact No. 14

Queen Elizabeth I of England reigned for 44 years, 127 days (from November 17, 1558 to March 24, 1603).

Random Fact No. 13

Windsor Castle is the oldest royal residence in the world still in use, as well as the largest.

Random Fact No. 12

The English use more tea per capita than any other country in the world, three times more than Japan and twenty-two times more than America and France.

Random Fact No. 11

The flag of England is called the Union Flag when it is seen on land and Union Jack when it is being used on a ship. It's called "Jack" because it must be flown on the jack mast of a vessel. 

Random Fact No. 10

It's illegal to declaw cats in England.

Random Fact No. 9

The Queen's birthday is actually celebrated on two occasions: her actual birthday, April 21, and a birthday moved to the first, second or third Saturday in June (though rarely the third) in hopes of better weather for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Random Fact No. 8

In 2003, a heatwave hit England, causing 100 degree weather for the first time in recorded history.

Random Fact No. 7

Big Ben isn't the name of the tower; it's the name of the bell inside. The tower is actually called St. Stephen's Tower.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old. -- Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

Random Fact No. 6

During World War One, the UK suffered two and a half million casualties.

Queen Elizabeth II

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. -- Queen Elizabeth II

Link

This is a great video of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGLN1kREJ2Q

Random Fact No. 5

Over 150 British towns are named Newtown.

King George VI

The highest of distinctions is service to others. -- King George VI

Random Fact No. 4

The largest city in the UK is its capital, London.

Link

This is one of the most beautiful speeches I have ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTw3_PmKtc

Random Fact No. 3

In the last 1500 years, there have been 66 British monarchs.

Victory

Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. -- Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

Link

This is a video, or rather a recording with a picture, of the first speech the Queen ever gave. It was 1940 and the Queen was fourteen. She was staying in Windsor at the time with her sister to escape the bombing in London and this speech was to all the other children who had left their parents to find safer homes in the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJI9LPFQth4

Random Fact No. 2

The Queen has lived through twelve American presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, James E. Carter, Ronald W. Reagan, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama.


http://scrapbooklady.typepad.com/katie_the_scrapbook_lady/2010/01/long-live-the-queen---a-cool-series-of-pictures.html

Random Fact No. 1

At its peak, the British Empire covered 13 million square miles and contained one fourth of the earth's population. Hence the saying, "The sun never sets on the British Empire."

Link

http://www.royal.gov.uk/

A Quote from Winnie --

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -- Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

God Save the Queen!