Dependent territories of the United Kingdom
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2024) |
The United Kingdom has a number of dependent territories throughout the world. They are not part of the UK itself, nor are they sovereign states. Each has its own distinct legally defined relationship with the UK. All have the British monarch as head of state. The term "Dependent territories of the United Kingdom" is no longer in official use, and was replaced by "British overseas territories" and "British overseas territories citizenship" with effect from 26 February 2002.[1] These territories fall into several broad categories:
British Overseas Territories[edit]
These territories form part of the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom as a result of constitutional and historical ties, as former parts of the British Empire. They have varying degrees of delegated internal self-governance. The UK counts a total of 14 such territories[2] (including the British Antarctic Territory).
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- The British Antarctic Territory is claimed as a dependency by the UK, but internationally its legal status is governed by the Antarctic Treaty.
Crown Dependencies[edit]
The Crown Dependencies are self-governing possessions of the British Crown with their own legislative assemblies. They were not part of the British Empire, but have a much older relationship with the UK as former feudatory kingdoms subject to the English Crown.
- Bailiwick of Guernsey
- Bailiwick of Jersey
- Isle of Man
See also[edit]
- Crown colony, an obsolete term for the Overseas Territories, and historically many others with a similar status
- Commonwealth of Nations
References[edit]
- ^ "British Overseas Territories" (PDF). gov.uk.
- ^ Great Britain 2012, pp. 6, 88.
Sources[edit]
- Great Britain (2012). The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability. Cm (Series) (Great Britain. Parliament). Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0-10-183742-2. Retrieved 2024-06-03.