Editing United Kingdom (section)

=== Formation of the state ===

The [[Kingdom of England]] and the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] shared a monarch from 1603 and were formally united by the Acts of Union in 1707, creating the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]. The union with Ireland followed in 1801, creating the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]].

In 1922, most of Ireland left the United Kingdom and became a separate state. Northern Ireland remained within the United Kingdom, producing the modern state name. This constitutional arrangement became one of the central features of British politics and identity.