The video discusses common misconceptions about Britain. The top 10 lies include:
1. All swans belong to the Queen, which is false; the monarch only owns unmarked mute swans in open water around certain areas of the River Thames.
2. London is constantly foggy, which is not true; London had 63 foggy days per year in the 19th century, but the fog has decreased significantly since then.
3. Lady Godiva rode naked on horseback; the origins of this story are unclear and may have been exaggerated.
4. Great Britain, the UK, and England are synonyms, which is incorrect; Great Britain refers to an island made up of England, Scotland, and Wales, while the UK includes Northern Ireland.
5. You are never more than six feet away from a rat; this is a myth with unclear origins, and the actual distance between a person and a rat in London is unknown.
6. Richard III was a villainous hunchback who stole the throne; while he did have a physical deformity, the extent of his villainy is disputed.
7. Big Ben is the nickname for the clock tower in London; it's actually the nickname for the bell inside the tower.
8. The Great Fire of London ended the plague; the fire did not have a significant impact on the plague, which continued to affect London.
9. The royal family always lives in Buckingham Palace; none of the royal family lives full-time in the palace, which is used more as an office and event space.
10. The Queen is all-powerful; while the Queen does have some powers, her role is largely ceremonial, and she must work with ministers to exercise her powers.
1. The Queen owns all unmarked mute swans in open water around certain areas of the River Thames.
2. The Queen's swans are counted during the annual Swan Upping event.
3. The event helps keep track of the swan population.
4. In 1952, the Great Smog in London killed around 12,000 people.
5. London has an average of 63 foggy days per year during the 19th century.
6. The UK is home to around 10.5 million rats.
7. Great Britain refers to the island made up of England, Scotland, and Wales.
8. The United Kingdom includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
9. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are also part of the British Isles.
10. The official name of the clock tower in London is the Elizabeth Tower.
11. Big Ben is the nickname of the bell, not the tower.
12. The Great Fire of London did not end the plague.
13. The plague was still present in London after the fire.
14. The royal family does not live full-time in Buckingham Palace.
15. The Queen has the power to summon Parliament, sign bills into laws, and declare war.
16. The Queen appoints the Prime Minister but does not choose them.
17. The Queen's powers are exercised by her ministers.