On this Date in 1997...

...after a nationwide referendum, Scotland votes to establish a devolved parliament, within the United Kingdom.  Which means that they now literally have monkeys in government.

On this Date in 1990...

...customs officers in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, say they have seized what they believe to be the barrel of a massive gun on a ship bound for Iraq.  They later discover that it was just a large sewer pipe.

On this Date in 1982...

...Queen Elizabeth II gave Royal Assent to the Canada Act 1982, which ended all remaining dependence of Canada on the United Kingdom by a process known as "patriation".  At which point Canada turned to the United States and said, "See, if you would have just waited a couple hundred years all you would have had to do was ask."

On this Date in 1934...

...the driving test is introduced in the United Kingdom.  Thus marking the beginning of the end for all automobile accidents in the United Kingdom.

On this Date in 2003...

...the Arab League votes 21-1 in favor of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of U.S. and British soldiers from Iraq.  Upon hearing the news leaders in both countries were overheard saying,"Those silly arabs, since when did we give them permission to vote on anything?"

On this Date in 1840...

...Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha married Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom at the Chapel Royal, becoming prince-consort.  Rumor has it that Queen Victoria discovered him in a sort of cylindrical metal container.

On this Date in 1913...

...the United Kingdom's House of Lords rejects the Irish Home Rule Bill.  Presumably, because it had not come with a case of Jameson.