The United Kingdom was a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe.

The UK was a developed country, with the fifth (nominal GDP) or sixth (PPP) largest economy in the world. It was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless remained a major power with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence worldwide. It was a nuclear power and had the second or third highest defence spending in the world.
 
[source: wikipedia]

And now it is gone...
