British History Facts

The Queen of England, who once enjoyed extensive powers and authority over almost the whole world, and despite all her present majesty and glory, is not allowed to enter the House of Commons simply because she is not its member!

The first programme shown on BBC2 was Play School

Christmas trees become popular in the UK from 1841 when Prince Albert erected a tree in Windsor Castle following a German tradition. Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century.

Before escaping prison, Winston Churchill left a letter of apology on his bed. The letter began: "I have the honour to inform you that as I do not consider that your Government have any right to detain me as a military prisoner, I have decided to escape from your custody."

In the UK Parliament, the Speaker of the House is forbidden from participating in debates or expressing political opinions, maintaining strict neutrality despite presiding over all discussions.

All the swans in England are property of the Queen.

The first ever patent in the UK was Aaron Rathbone & Roger Burges, Map makers in 1618!

In 1956, 80% of all U.S. households had a refrigerator, but only 8% of British households had one!

Simon the cat was smuggled onto the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst as a stray kitten in 1948. In 1949, Chinese forces fired on the ship and Simon took four pieces of shrapnel. He kept hunting rats and visiting sick sailors through 100 days trapped on the Yangtze River. The Navy awarded him the Dickin Medal - the highest honor any animal can receive. He died before the ceremony.

Stonehenge was privately owned until 1918. A barrister named Cecil Chubb bought it at a Salisbury auction in 1915 for £6,600 - by some accounts because he got carried away while there to buy dining chairs. Three years later he gave it to the British nation. The government made him a baronet.