Great Britain, officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland. Some key facts: - Capital and largest city is London - Population of over 60 million people - Languages spoken include English, Welsh, and Gaelic - Currency is the British pound sterling - Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state as a constitutional monarchy - Traditionally a monarchy dating back to the 9th century, interrupted briefly in the 17th century