The English have found it difficult for most of their history to separate themselves from a British identity. That is in good part because they created two empires: the empire of the United Kingdom and the more familiar overseas British Empire. As an imperial people, they have merged their identities in their creations. But with the loss of the overseas empire and the possible break-up of the United Kingdom itself, they have been forced to consider the question of who they are and what is a specifically English as opposed to a British identity. Brexit has made that task even more urgent. The problem is the relative lack of a tradition of reflection on English national identity. There is no lack of cultural resources to draw on, but the work remains to be done.