The United Kingdom, also called the U.K., consists of a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe. It is a unique country made up of four nations: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England, Wales, and Scotland also make up Great Britain.
The United Kingdom is a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.[17][18] The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 1952, making her the world's longest-serving current head of state.[19] The United Kingdom's capital and largest city is London, a global city and financial centre with an urban area population of 10.3 million.[20] Other major cities include Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool.