As a person from Central Europe, the most interesting thing is that England ended up with just one special city. In my much smaller country, about a dozen cities had charters recognising their rights, privileges and obligations. Up until the late 19th century, it seems that the wisdom for dealing with cities was to just let them be.

@dragon12234

6 ай бұрын

A big difference is that England, post 1066, was always relatively centralized, especially compared to the HRE and later German Federations

@PastPresented

6 ай бұрын

@@dragon12234 Quite a bit earlier than 1066; King Athelstan of (EDIT: Wessex and) Mercia took control over the other local kingdoms (including the Danelaw) between 924 and 927.

@eelsemaj99

6 ай бұрын

There were other cities that had special rights and freedoms too, but London was the ancient capital since roman times (although it didn’t always act as the capital) and it was therefore always especially mentioned and conceded to. You’re right though, it is weird that London has extra privileges over most ancient cities within England

@Vonononie

6 ай бұрын

And it does cause issues with so much being centralised in a small corner of the country. We do have projects to decentralise (Levelling-Up and the Northern Powerhouse Project) but I think it will take generations to show real change

@eelsemaj99

6 ай бұрын

@@Vonononie oh certainly

Trying to get in the habit of referring to the UK's 'monarch' instead of queen, but it's difficult.

@AbhijeetBorkar

6 ай бұрын

Nah, here onwards, all UK monarchs will just be referred to as queens, regardless of their gender.

@Iscannon

6 ай бұрын

@@AbhijeetBorkar Yaaaas

@snr0n

6 ай бұрын

Have you been trying to get in that habit since April 2022 when this video was published on TikTok, or does your comment not relate to this video at all?

@brucekaraus7330

6 ай бұрын

Try, "king".

@sammiller6631

6 ай бұрын

@@AbhijeetBorkar Why?

I imagine some people might be thinking of it as analagous to Vatican City, which is it's own country. Thank you for clarifying!

I like that we all gave up on calling him the King and we're just gonna say Queen forever

@evilsharkey8954

6 ай бұрын

She was queen for 70 years. Almost every person on Earth has only ever known a queen of England until very recently

@pedanticradiator1491

6 ай бұрын

​@@evilsharkey8954Queen of UK not England

@namethathasntbeentakenyetm3682

Ай бұрын

it's just cause she made these a while ago and released them now. at the time it was accurate

@brunoliddle

16 күн бұрын

It was hard enough not calling him "King Prince Charles" - Prince had almost become his first name...

the answer to a question I didn't know needed asking 😂 very interesting how these rumors get started.

@matthewcreelman1347

6 ай бұрын

Seriously. The weird things you read in Internet comment sections. On that note, what I’d like to know is when did the last unicorn at London Zoo die?

@stuartd9741

6 ай бұрын

I think the argument is that the COL is a separate legal entity from London due to the privileges from the Magna Carta.. Legally separate, not physically separate..?

If you want an amusing look at how this might play out if it was true, I recommend the film “Passport to Pimlico”. Classic Ealing comedy.

I'd just like to say that you deserve so many more views. Your content is so informative and every time I watch I'm either thrown right back into history class and remembering what we learned or I'm learning something new! Thankyou for the effort you make for us ❤

@LydiaMoMydia

6 ай бұрын

i agree, she's amazing

@J-sv9dp

4 ай бұрын

How many other brilliant KZread channels have far fewer viewers I wonder? We can't tell because we never come across them.

I think the confusion is also due to the fact the Met police have no jurisdiction in the City because the City isn't a London Borough. Hence why they have their own police force.

@DavidMcKinstry-yx5tt

6 ай бұрын

Yeah it is likely mostly due to this, an area within a wider area which has its own police force is definitely veering towards "city-state" status in terms of how most people would understand the term. So you can kind of see how people may become confused about the City being a "separate country." It is also the only place in the UK which has a non-residential vote which means that at local level it operates very differently to anywhere else in the UK in terms of representation. It is also an unusual entity in that it very publicly owns land outside of its boundaries and administers it as such (a lot of council estates in South London, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest etc), which is much more akin to a city-state with an 'embassy' role than a typical local authority.

@jakecavendish3470

6 ай бұрын

@@DavidMcKinstry-yx5tt Yes definitely all of the above, plus another thing that probably makes people think the City is somehow a separate country is the fact that Prime Ministers and the monarch have to attend the Guildhall for banquets etc. You wouldn't see the King going to a state banquet at Bromley Town Hall 😂. The fact you have these essentially 'state visits' to the City by the crown and government definitely make it look like a state within a kingdom

@DavidMcKinstry-yx5tt

6 ай бұрын

@@jakecavendish3470 Very true, plus when an overseas head of state visits Britain they are given a state banquet at Buckingham Palace to welcome them to the UK followed by a state banquet at the Guildhall to welcome them to the City of London, which in terms of diplomatic relations really is moving into being a separate country in all but name!

@barneylaurance1865

6 ай бұрын

The Met police do have jurisdiction in the City though. Yes the City has its own police force, but they all have jurisdiction in the entirety of England and Wales. And I believe the City lost operational control of its own area after the Carnival Against Capital on June 18th 1999.

I wonder if some might have also confabulated the status of the City of London with that of Vatican City, which IS a sovereign nation, adding to the confusion?

Could this come from a misreading of the word county? The City of London is a different (ceremonial) county from Greater London, and I for one certainly misread county as country from time to time. I can completely see this getting misread, then half-remembered wrongly, especially given the history and ceremony you brought up.

@ethank5059

6 ай бұрын

I think a big part is that people love to say “technically X is an independent country” about a variety of places. It’s more of a “fun fact” even though it’s not really a fact kind of like how Sealand isn’t the “smallest country in the world” because it’s not actually a recognized country by any countries.

@persiswynter6357

6 ай бұрын

I'll buy this one. I can't tell you how many people try to put the abbreviation for their county in the box for country. We only have the country box for the 5% of clients who live abroad. Sigh.

@IndigoJo

5 ай бұрын

The City of London isn't even a county unto itself. It was part of Middlesex and then the County of London. It's just a different type of local authority to others, elected by its guilds (which represent business nowadays) more than by its residents (who nowadays are very few). City residents vote for the mayor of London and London Assembly members.

I wonder if the myth came about like this: given its relative independence, ancient relationship with the sovereign, and unique form of self-governance, the City might seem somewhat akin to the Crown Dependencies of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. The latter three are self-governing and are *not* part of the UK. The notion of the City’s actual similarity can be refuted by this fact: unlike the Crown Dependencies, the City is part of a parliamentary constituency, and its residents vote for and are represented by an MP. Uniquely governed ≠ separate.

@IndigoJo

5 ай бұрын

And only for local government. Not actual law. The same laws that apply in Westminster and Southwark apply in the City too.

@WyvernYT

2 ай бұрын

Yes, this; the Crown Dependencies are an excellent comparison. If one didn't know better it sounds plausible to wonder if the City of London had some similar arrangement.

I've never heard of any of this. I love how you cover things with such energy. It is so fun to learn from you!!! I have always loved history (I was the weird kid that actually watched the documentaries my teachers would show us in school, while most of my classmates slept lol). But you make it come alive with your vibrant energy. So again thank you!

@Sweetlyfe

6 ай бұрын

I was the history nerd too, still obsessed with documentaries and I’m nearly 60. Love J Draper’s energy and passion for History and teaching us stuff.

@jfergs.3302

6 ай бұрын

Ditto

My guess is that it's a mistake based off "the City of London is not part of London", which is at least arguably true.

I've never heard anyone claim that the City of London is not part of the UK. However, maybe this comes from people being confused when hearing that the City of London is not part of Greater London?

I think people get confused by the City not being part of (Greater) London, and somehow imagine that extends to it not being part of the UK. I’m not quite sure how they imagine it working - passport control on the Strand? But I’m pretty sure that’s what’s happening. Made for an interesting video at least!

@georgesos

6 ай бұрын

These questions come from people who never had a passport or traveled outside their US state...(I bet they are American).

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

It has its own government and most importantly its own tax laws, widely regarded as the most corrupt place on earth, since the swiss introduced more stringent laws on criminal money laundering and tax evasion, business has boomed there. It orovides anonymity to bast networks of criminal enterprise and is used to funnel wealth to tax havens and other shady dominions the world over Whilst not technically a different country its financial regulation, tax laws and police force are used to great benefit of very rich and iften very criminal people. It is in efffect a different country within a country. Its a big club and you aint in it. You van pour sugar on this all you want but its financial accountability makes it easentially a yreachiurous criminal state within our own borders.

@markevans2294

6 ай бұрын

Possibly they mistakenly assume it's like The Vatican. Which actually is an independent city state inside of a city.

@Trebor74

6 ай бұрын

Passport to pimlico,may be worth a watch

@llynnmarks3382

6 ай бұрын

I can understand how they would get confused because millions of people could have misunderstood CGP Grey and others. Did CGP Grey say it's a different country? No. But he said the monarch neeeds permission to enter and that the ceremony is only a formality and not an actual permission request

A friend of mine believes this because ALex Jones often states that the City of London is a seperate state owned by interanational bankers. He also states that The City of London owns the American City Bank. So, anyway this is the source of where I heard about this particular belief about London.

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

Its not really a belief, its essentially the moneyboaunderig capital of the world. All aboutvwashing that money and keeping its owners anonymous as they funnel it off shore.

@Brasswatchman

6 ай бұрын

Ohhhhhhhhh. That explains a lot.

@Dale_The_Space_Wizard

6 ай бұрын

@@Brasswatchman I also think that David Icke mentions this a lot, that evil international bankers own the City of London as a seperate nation to the UK.

@stuartd9741

6 ай бұрын

The London square mile financial district is in the city of London.. And does benefit from the ancient privileges from the Magna Carta...?

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

@@stuartd9741 money laundering capital of the world.

I am pretty sure that amongst the ancient liberties of the City is the right to engage with "principalities". Basically the Lord Mayor is allowed to meet with the King of Spain without the permission the UK government. The City does quite a bit of business promotion abroad and even though some of what forms part of brand London isn't in the City when you add things up there is an awful lot of sanctity and ability to project outwards independently of the UK government associated with the City. It would be believable to hear that the Bishop of London (whose see is wider than the City) has asserted that a foreign national whose visa or whatnot expires must be left unmolested by UK immigration while that person is residing within the City, but this would be in parallel to whatever fight is happening at the home office. Similarly it would not be surprising if a summons from either of the two sheriffs of the City would mean that a person arriving at the UK without permission of the UK government would be taken to the City rather than deported. Of course they are likely to be detained throughout the time. Similarly I suspect that during the medieval period more regularly permits for Jews to visit would have been issued than for the rest of England (ignoring antisemitic tropes as a simple matter of there being a requirement in the City and the guilds being active). The idea of a person being able to enter England specifically to go to the City can quickly evolve into a different country narrative. Add to this the Hansetic League - which the Wikipedia describes as "never more than a loosely aligned confederation of city-states.", of course London was a kontor but the mythology stands. It certainly is a daft myth that the City is a different country (Scotland and England are countries) or nation or anything of that sort. However I think it is fair to say that the City has a distinct jurisdiction character and that there are similarities between it and a jurisdiction like Hong Kong. However it isn't the only jurisdictional oddity in the UK or even England. I do think a bad government could quickly find itself crashing into issues with the City that could precipitate a minor constitutional crisis - Parliament could of course simply by Act change things. However I think having some special jurisdiction attributes and some mythology and pageantry works for all concerned and so it will be retained and evolve as it has for centuries.

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

Money laundering capital of the world basically.

It's similar to the notion that Berwick on Tweed is still at war with whatever country. Formal documents in the past often enumerated such things as the city of london, berwick, chester etc. Sometimes a declaration of war enumerated a place that wasn't enumerated in the peace treaty, them being covered by the sovereign entity.

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

Far from it, it qhs very different laws than the rest of the uk, especially when it comes to the movement of vast amounts of money. Widely regarded as the money laundering capital of the world due to its anonymity and tax laws. Vast amounts of wealth are funneled and washed through the place daily. Its banking institutions sre much like those of the swiss banks of old, all the drug money, corrupt goverments, dictators. Shell corporations and a large portion of the worlds wealthbis hidden and moved within its systems.

@jon-paulfilkins7820

6 ай бұрын

I think it was the Crimean war... Anyway that got resolved. Though the Longest unfought war was apparently between the Isles of Scilly and the Dutch. Royalist Pirates operating from there just after the English Civil War raiding Dutch Shipping. The Dutch were forced to write a strong letter and declare war (just as the situation was being resolved) and it just sat in the Dutch "wars ongoing" tray for about 300 years! Kind of counts because the Isles of Scilly have an odd place in the UKs sovereignty (Like Isle of Man, Channel Islands etc, subject to but not quite fully part of due to legal technicalities)

I've heard about this but in like "A part of the London is a special historical district" and... yes, it is common for big, old cities to have an "historical centre" that works differently from the modern metropolitan Area.

I think the factoid of “the City of London isn’t in (Greater) London)” became more extravagant overtime in some people’s heads

@DanielsPolitics1

4 ай бұрын

It is in Greater London though.

@shacharraz9129

4 ай бұрын

The Greater London Authority does not govern it @@DanielsPolitics1

I wonder if this confusion stems from all of the little tiny islands surrounding England which are not part of the UK.

That's an interesting myth ... 🤔 btw .. I enjoy the "long" shorts; since KZread lets me queue them - and screen them to my tv - like the longer videos, it's much more convenient than "shorts". And I enjoy your content, so I hate to miss it! 🙂

I think a lot of people also conflate the City of London with the Vatican as well. They see that they're both tiny self-governing cities located within larger historic cities and assume that they're both independent countries as well.

This is genuine - as a kid I was told you could ask to pee in a policeman's helmet if you were caught short in the City of London. I never go to put it into practice. Just as well, because I have my doubts.

@RichardFoster

6 ай бұрын

In my (very hazy) recollection of that, it only applied if you were pregnant, too. Since that was clearly never going to be applicable to me, I never checked the veracity until a few minutes ago. The Law Commission investigated and could find no evidence of any such law, although they did note that urinating in a public place is not illegal country-wide. It is usually an offense in the local bylaws. They also noted that if the offender is pregnant, more leeway is typically given.

I think many very old cities do have charters giving special privileges, mostly to do with self governance, the exclusive rights to host markets (as in the neighbouring towns can't host a market), the right to raise certain taxes and the obligation to maintain militia both to serve the Monarch in times of War and keep order within the walls the rest of the Time (They were Soldiers AND Police force). Most of those Militias are now territorial army units if they still exist at all. I think London's "Honorable Artillery Company (HAC)" still has some of the most peculiar quirks. They are the guys dressed as Musketeers and Pikemen that escort the Lord Mayor, they are also Territorial army reservists AND man the guns at The Tower for firing salutes. The HAC (though not yet with the title of Honorable) are also listed among the units that mustered at Tilbury for Elizabeth 1st to stand ready to fight the Spanish should the Amada make landfall with its troops.

When people spread this silly myth in my direction I always tell them that Passport to Pimlico was an Ealing Comedy not a documentary!!! Not quite the same geographical area, but you get my drift...

It's just as likely they are confusing it with not being part of Greater London, which it isn't really as it is managed separately on a local political level. Even if it is physically inside London. But only in the same way that Romford is physically in Essex, but isn't in the political county of "Essex"

@rosiefay7283

6 ай бұрын

The City of London is part of Greater London. However, it is not any of the 32 London boroughs (or any part of a borough). And Romford hasn't been physically in Essex since the creation of the London Borough of Havering.

@Vonononie

6 ай бұрын

⁠@@rosiefay7283geographically it’s part of Greater London (as they are in the same area), but it’s not part of Greater London in any political or administrative way. I think this quote from their website best describes it: “It is also a separate ceremonial county, being an enclave surrounded by Greater London, and is the smallest ceremonial county in England.” The City is run by The Lord Mayor from Mansion House, whereas Greater London is run by the Mayor from London City Hall. Greater London is policed by the Metropolitan Police, The City is policed by London City Police. The City even has its own specific laws that aren’t applied in Greater London or nationally

@SamAronow

6 ай бұрын

@@rosiefay7283 The Proclaimers lyric "I'm gonna be the one who's havering for you" was actually dedicated to Romford.

@stuartd9741

6 ай бұрын

I agree this may be part of it. And perhaps the COL is a separate legal entity from London/UK. Due to the special privileges from the Magna Carta.. .. There is also the city of London police and the metropolitan police two seemingly different forces/jurisdictions?

It's always fun to hear myths I've never heard of get debunked immediately upon first being told of them within the same video

Well, we all know that Pimlico isn't part of the UK. There's even a film about it.

@christopherhill4438

6 ай бұрын

That's the film I was trying to think of. "Passport to Pimlico"

People *might* be mixing up the idea behind the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, which actually aren't part of the UK, with the City of London. The Channel Islands and Isle of Man, as Crown Dependencies, are loyal to the king but, since they are not incorporated into England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, aren't part of the UK. Their people don't vote in UK elections or pay UK taxes and the vast majority of laws passed in the UK parliament don't apply to those islands. Instead, they have their own governments which date back from before there even was an England or UK. The king (who now of course doesn't exercise any power except through the UK government's instructions) has power over the islands' defence and foreign policy, and claims some vague "good government" power (whatever that means), which means they are not foreign countries, but neither are they part of the UK. The City of London also has its own government which dates back to time immemorial, but of course it *is* incorporated within England, its people pay UK taxes and laws passed by the UK parliament apply to it, so it is part of the UK.

I think some of it may be from a belief (which I'm not sure if is true itself) that The City Of London is separate in the same way that England and Scotland are seperate, and are effectively a Constituent Country, like England or Scotland, possibly even more so because [insert odd law or the title of Remembrancer or some other reason]. It isn't helped by the fact once you start digging down you find all sorts of other weird legal states of various other parts of the country, like how some of the Channel Islands are "Crown Dependencies", which get even weirder when you learn about Sark, which is itself a dependency of (to?) Gurnsey.

I'm guessing that it's a misinterpretation leading people to think that it's like Vatican City, rather then just a really really old city with ancient bylaws. 🤣

@deadprivacy

6 ай бұрын

The thing it has in common with the vatican is the vast amountvof money it launders. Amd the opacity of who owns that money, where it goes amd why noone pays tax on it..

Per Professor Hatton-Jones review of Edward IV's royal charter in 1947... wasn't Pimlico discovered to be legally part of Burgundy and defacto a separate country?

Not only is your content top tier, but you delivery, the voice, the face acting is always just so enthralling. Are you as animated while doing your walking tours?

@Sweetlyfe

6 ай бұрын

I reckon she would be this engaging on the tours.

@Spearca

4 ай бұрын

I assume years of tour groups developed the delivery.

The myth must be connected to the postwar Ealing comedy PASSPORT TO PIMLICO, in which Pimlico turns out to be a foreign nation...

I personally agree with CGP Grey's conjecture about the origin of this idea, namely when you combine ancient things, opaque traditions, the world's oldest Masonic temple and a modern financial industry hub, you attract weirdos.

So I did have some on a tour in the city of London tell me that the city of London is distinct for London. And so the city of London is technically Europes smallest capital city. I would guess some people heard this and got confused between it's own city and it's own country thinking it was similar to Vatican city (which is its own country)

@Poliss95

6 ай бұрын

But Buck House and the Houses of Parliament are in the City of Westminster.

@pedanticradiator1491

6 ай бұрын

​@@Poliss95 well Amsterdam is regarded as the capital of The Netherlands but the government, monarch and Parliament are all based in The Hague

It’s also why JPs, MPs, and Lords from the House of, have to swear allegiance to the crown and to a religious text - historically the bible, but now you can choose your own. They’re doing the same thing as the Lord Mayor, just a more minor, less publicised one

From the view of the rest of the country London might as well be foreign. The level of investment in infrastructure and public services has more in common with mainland Europe then it does with any other part of England north of Watford Gap

There were parts of London where writs from other parts of England were not enforceable. (A practice that has long since ended.) Perhaps these liberties (such as the Liberty of the Savoy) may have been the start of these rumors.

I've lived in London all my life (67 years!), drove a cab for over 30 years, always been interested in London and its history .. but not once have I ever heard anyone say this! ... did you just make it up or is this actually written down somewhere? I do love your vids btw ...

i think the closest i've heard of something like that is in a CGPGray video on Brexit that London could theoretically become a city state for economic purposes? and rejoin the EU for its own benefits i will admit that it's been absolutely ages since i watched that and the situation is entirely theoretical and also applies to the whole jurisdiction rather than just the City of London but money being at the root of it makes total sense

@Jivvi

6 ай бұрын

If I remember correctly, he also said something about it being an unincorporated city, like how some US territories are unincorporated, and technically part of the US, but people born there are US nationals, not citizens.

I think from what I heard, the City of London being a separate country is supposedly said in the same vein as Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc are separate countries, they are all under the UK but still are separate countries this is what my London living friends have told me so no idea how prevalent this theory truly is

@globalincident694

6 ай бұрын

that makes more sense. but they still don't have as much control over their own laws or soft power over the rest of the UK and beyond, so they still aren't a country.

@untziggy4

6 ай бұрын

England doesn't have a devolved parliament of it's own either, though.

@Stand663

6 ай бұрын

It’s called. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 🇬🇧 and since devolution each country runs it’s separate own affairs. Ps They even raise their own taxes.

@GaryDunion

6 ай бұрын

​@@untziggy4That's true, but when the UK Parliament makes laws just for England, the legislation will say "This Act extends to England," and that definitely includes the City. It doesn't have to say "This Act extends to England and the City of London."

@nienke7713

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, "country" is a vague word that can refer to a nation (e.g. Scotland), to a state (e.g. the UK), or to a nation-state (e.g. the Republic of Ireland). A nation is about a group sharing a certain national identity (often but not necessarily with a defined territory). A state is an officially recognised autonomous authority over a certain territory. A nation-state is a state by and for a single nation (although it is possible that (people from) other nations live in the jurisdiction as well). (Note that "state" also is used for subdivisions in the US, which are not states in the sense used here because they are subject to the authority of the US federal government without any legal framework to leave the US and no longer fall under federal authority). Considering the City of London is still subject to the UK (without the autonomy to leave it) and isn't really defined by a national identity of its own, I would say it fails any definition of being a country.

I sort of see where this is coming from because the city has essentially feudal rights, dating to a time where independence was more of a spectrum and on the idea that it would be somewhat hard for the monarch to conquer the city if they wanted to. Modern people are used to thinking of unitary states without that sort of thing

I think it comes from the complexity of the UK, it is a country made up of countries, with overseas territories and crown dependencies. So a part with different rules causes questions.

However, Pimlico is part of France. I saw a film about that.

It's a juicy story. It also has probably enabled some people, somewhere, to sleep at night after doing something anti-social. Those two elements contribute to a lot of rumors and folklore.

Look at the UK being progressive. Finally after about 1000 years, a man gets to be Queen

@dragonweyr44

6 ай бұрын

Well, Chrles 3 is the least popular king in recent memory, but at the age of 75, I don't think he'll be king for long

@8Hshan

6 ай бұрын

​@@dragonweyr44Judging by the lifetime of his parents, it could still be ~20 years, not that short.

@ragnkja

6 ай бұрын

@@dragonweyr44 Is “recent memory” longer or shorted than “living memory”? I’d assume it’s shorter, but English isn’t my native language.

@jrcorsey

6 ай бұрын

@@ragnkja generally, recent memory would be shorter than living memory. But they are not two points on the same scale, they are two different ways of dividing time, and so they could overlap. Also, 'living memory' and 'recent history' would be more idiomatic than 'recent memory', but again, not the same way of thinking, so not three phrases you should think of as being in an order.

I've never thought the City of London as separate, but it is certainly a morally objectionable subdivision of the government that should be reformed.

@Brasswatchman

6 ай бұрын

Meh. Does it work in a fashion? Then why fix it?

"Alright, we're doing this!!!" - I burst out laughing, Thanx!

I love debunking historical myths!

My best guess is they misinterpreted CGP Grey's video on the City of London? It is pretty easy to get confused by their status I think because it is so often highlighted as special and different.

That's really funny! During my entire year and some change living in England I spent some time living in London, and never heard the idea that it's a separate country! Strange that I'm just learning of this now! What a funny idea! But, I suppose it could make for the basis of a rather cool historical fiction novel!

@barneylaurance1865

6 ай бұрын

The idea is only the The City of London, the financial district, is a separate country. Not the entire Greater London, which is more likely to be where you lived.

@crow_feather

6 ай бұрын

@@barneylaurance1865 Oh, thank you for the clarification, but I understand that. I just thought it was strange for me to have lived in London at all and never hear this before!

@adrianbruce2963

6 ай бұрын

Passport To Pimlico moved a bit?

@crow_feather

6 ай бұрын

@@adrianbruce2963 Sorry, but I don't think I'm following. Could you please clarify?

@adrianbruce2963

6 ай бұрын

"Passport To Pimlico" was a 1949 comedy film where documents were discovered that made Pimlico part of Burgundy and not, therefore part of the UK. Hence no rationing that was still in force in the rest of the UK. Very much like this idea that the City of London is separate.

Love your work!

In the hood we call that "checkin in". Just a friendly heads up lettin the locals know your in their hood, usually with good intentions. 🤣🤣🤣

@Deedeevenice

6 ай бұрын

* YOU’RE in their hood

It’s a little like the “Free Cities” of Germany. They are their own states within Germany’s federal system, but they are not their own countries.

Probably just general confusion about the British system, like where Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Jersey and whatnot are under the British crown, but have various different titles, like "Crown Dependency" and "Overseas Territory" that make them not part of the UK. The City seems like it could be one of those. Very different from the French where all their holdings, even as far as French Polynesia are considered integral parts of France.

I feel like people are conflating the Vatican and London

Is Lizzie back? I’d prefer that!

@dennis8196

6 ай бұрын

Better without any of them.

@RiverMersey

6 ай бұрын

Yes, I've just commented on that too 😂

@peterclarke7240

6 ай бұрын

She'd be a bit whiffy, wouldn't she?

@dennis8196

6 ай бұрын

@@peterclarke7240 you assume she wasn't before the end. All royalty stink.

I do recall that there have been murmurs of an independent London movement over the years that were a little bit rekindled with Brexit, and that probably morphed into an actual independence through the memetic telephone game. There's similar murmurs about New York City even. They don't have any merit outside of mildly amusing thought experiment or sense of virtual independence wishing for a real one.

@jonathanlewis453

6 ай бұрын

Well, it has the border controls for it now.

If I hear that the City isn't part of the UK, that doesn't make me think it's sovereign or anything, but that it has an exceptional status, like the Channel Islands. And knowing that it's an exception in other ways, it does seem plausible (but I'd have heard of it before if it were true).

I thought London was like Washington D.C. - a capital in a district that has a distinct status apart from all other counties/provinces. I've never heard that it wasn't a part of the U.K.

I think because City of London is kind of... a city inside a city inside a country inside a country (City of London inside Greater London, inside England, inside the UK) people maybe get it the wrong way round from that perspective too? IDK, just another potential source of confusion

Have they just added an 'R' to the prhase City and County of London? Or Just confused, as many people are with Ceremonial County? The final thing, which I am guilty of saying myself, is that because it is really old, I think the city is older than a 'united England' when there were multiple kingdoms and tribes but I ain't so sure of that, but when have facts got in the way of a tale?

New one on me , never heard of anyone thinking or saying that the city is not part of the UK

This sounds like something like "Home Rule" municipalities in the US. These have different rules than "Cities", "Boroughs" or "Townships". But are in fact STILL under US (and their state laws).

As a Retired City of London Guide I wondered if you have considered taking the course,It runs from September to Easter attending one evening a week at guildhall & one teaching walk on the weekend there are visits with acomping talks on Various city Institutions on site visits ie: Guildhall,&Wood Street police Station & Museum,Tower Bridge,& Guildhall Library, you will be expected to do the City Churches & Livery halls & walk the city other than the course walks( Come rain, sleet ,hail,or snow,)yourself or in groups you form on the course,you will see amazing things & places the City Churches & Liery halls are very helpfull understanding & Informative,the exams are held around Easter in Guildhall & a designated walk in which your group will be tested on your knowledge & skills and on any language other than English if you speak it,you will be taught how to control the group you are guiding so that they are safe from traffic & do not impede others in their daily working life ,I'm sure it would suit you & open up a whole new world of experience to add to your existing Knowledge & Skills !!

The Mayor and the Monarch having a pint at the bar down by the temple every time they come to the city. There are so many quirky things about British culture.

I guess some people misinterpreted the old video by CGP Gray on the peculiarities of the City of London and came to the wrong conclusion.

I think another big part of why people might think it is proposed ideas of secession in the uk. Between Scotland and wales and Irish reunification, some have proposed London become a city state.

Berwick-upon-Tweed, having previously changed from Scottish to English control numerous times was declared by treaty in 1551 to be independent of both countries but in practice remained under English control thereafter. But I'm told its football teams still play in the Scottish league.

I thought it had something to do with the financial sector be independent from the crown in some way. The conspiracy theory has something to do with Rome (religious headquarters), Washington DC (political headquarters), and the London banking district (financial headquarters), the 3 powers that run the world each being their own entity with little oversight by the rest of the world. Or something like that.

From my experience (having lived in many places in UK including London), London is culturally an lifestyle wise very different to anywhere else in the UK. I think that's a result of several things including hyper centralisation and a very established public transport system. In part there's a strong perception from outside of London that there is a bit of a double standard, particularly where it comes to politics. Investment and sentiment are often highly focused on the one city, let alone more rural areas. Suppose it makes sense when your MPs spend most of their time outside of their constituency and have accommodation in London.

@sourwitch2340

6 ай бұрын

Reminds me of how different Berlin is from the rest of Germany. And that one is a different state - and states in Germany are literally called "Countries of the Union" (didn't find a better translation for Bundesland) - but it still isn't legally separate from Germany, because none of Germany's states are.

@IndigoJo

5 ай бұрын

You might be thinking of London rather than the City of London. The City is the banking district and this is the area that has the "special status", in practice just its own form of local government.

Never heard that. But are a fan of Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey-Maturin novels. So knows The Savoy district in London wasn’t under the law of The Crown, but under Liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster. Meant among other things, someone in debt couldn’t be arrested for it there. Could be how the rumours started. Easily becomes that after a couple retellings. Yes. it’s basically where the Savoy Hotel is these days. Patrick O’Brien famously used historical facts in his novels. Still fact-checked it.

I've definitely heard people say that London is culturally separate from the rest of the UK as though it's a different country (and that London and NYC have more in common with each other than each has with the rest of their own country) but that's kind of a different thought process.

If the Royals don't hang out in London, where are they most often found within a reasonable vagueness?

@GaryDunion

6 ай бұрын

It kind of depends on the Royal. The Queen when not in London was generally to be found at Sandringham in Norfolk, Windsor Castle or Balmoral in Aberdeenshire. Before his succession Charles lived mostly at Clarence House in London and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire; I don't know how his habits have changed now. Buckingham Palace is being renovated, not in a way that makes it unusable or anything but it wouldn't surprise me if it sees less use during that process.

@barneylaurance1865

6 ай бұрын

Remember this video is just about the City of London, not Greater London. Buckingham, Kensington, and other royal palaces are in Greater London, not The City.

@beeble2003

6 ай бұрын

They don't hang about in _the City of London,_ the tiny red part in the middle of London in the map at 0:25. The City consists almost entirely of offices and concrete. It used to be the main financial district, until that mostly moved to Canary Wharf.

Great video. The City of London is a fantastic tidbit of history and a mystery to many people. And of course it's part of the UK. However, it was my understanding that, even back to William the Conqueror, the monarch needed permission to enter the walls (back when it had walls). I took great pleasure in telling people that if they're ever being chased through the streets of London by Ol' Lizzie they can run into the City of London and she would have to stand at the boundary angrily shaking her fist at them because she couldn't follow them in. The comical image is gone of course now that dear Lizzie has passed on, so I suppose I don't lose much in discovering this wasn't the case

It might be that the concept of modern nation states is a thing from the 17th century. England/Britain/UK never really made that transformation. Look at the Channel Islands. Many things are more reminicents of a pre-modern almost feudal society.

I just love these.

I think when people say that it’s not part of the UK, they don’t mean that it’s a sovereign country, like the way Luxembourg is. I think they mean that it’s a place linked to the UK, but not part of it for some obscure historical reason. Like how the Channel Islands are not part of the UK, but still tied to the UK.

@Poliss95

6 ай бұрын

But the City of London IS part of the UK. It's not like the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

@beeble2003

6 ай бұрын

When people say that the City of London isn't part of the UK, they're just wrong. It's not really important to figure out exactly what they mean because, whatever it is that they do mean, it's still wrong.

I did not know this. Thank you, it's very interesting!

You are absolutely right the City has never been, nor claimed to be, a sovereign or separate nation. We, along with the rest of Grater London, should become one though. Lexit! We voted to remain in the EU by a larger margin than Scotland, and consistently have much more left wing politics than the rest of England. It is time we expand our ancient freedoms and become a separate country (unless we have less idiocy like recent British politics).

@stuartd9741

6 ай бұрын

Could COL be Legally separate? Hence the confusion...?

Glad I'm not the only one who keeps randomly forgetting that HMK CIII is on the throne now.. ;P

I recently saw someone claim that it wasn't and that there are only 3 city states in the world. There are, but not the 3 that he said, which were Washington DC, the City of London and Vatican City, but they're actually Monaco, Singapore and Vatican City. DC is a federal district which isn't part of any US state, which may be the origin of that confusion

Probably lots of British tourists complaining about London while abroad, spreading the reputation of London vs everyone else thats sometimes felt considering it contains the majority of the population and the near entirety of the money

@thefogboundfan8314

6 ай бұрын

Majority of the population? Approx 9 million out of 68 million.

It probably stems from the fact that in the US, Washington D.C. is close to being a different part of the US (it's not, but it feels like it is) because it's such a political center as compared to a place where people live. There are people who live around it, but living within it is usually just politicians or rich people.

I don't know how, but I've been going out with a guy that also watches her. We don't live in the UK, we don't even live in an English speaking country. So, now I can say Babe, wake up, new J Draper video just dropped

I wonder if people are thinking it's like Vatican City in Rome, where it's its own country within a country. 🤔

Never heard any of this, thanks for sharing.

It reminds me of the "sovereign citizen" stuff that exists in the US

You can tell how long ago this was filmed by the usage of the word "Queen"

The British city which isnt really part of England is Liverpool. "We're not English We're not English We're not English We are Scouse" as they sing in Anfield

maybe people watched the movie "passport to Pimlico" and got the wrong idea??..

@pedanticradiator1491

5 ай бұрын

Well if they watched that film they would know at the end it turns out Pinlico is actually part of the UK after all

Following on from this, can you do the independence of the Temple from the City (which means that the Lord Mayor cannot enter with his sword bearer)

Draper is cool as fuck. Love every single thing she uploads.

A big reason people think this is that Google used to tell people The City of London is a self governing city-state that swore fealty to the English monarchy

I once heard about the government infrastructure of the city of London, and it threw me for a loop the first time I heard about it.

Thank you! Now can you please explain why Milton Keynes has it's own fleet of nuclear-powered dirigibles?

@Brasswatchman

6 ай бұрын

Look, if *you* know someone with nuclear-powered dirigibles, are *you* gonna be the one trying to tell them what to do?

They might be mixing things up with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which aren't technically part of the UK due to similar weird historical quirks to the one that lets the City of London claim 'ancient freedoms'.

@susanbrannigan

6 ай бұрын

Okay I only learned about this (specifically about the Isle of Man) recently and I don't really understand it. Probably something people from the U.K. take for granted but flummoxes us Americans.

i think that dud confused not being a part of London (the greater one) and not being a part of the UK