They can't take back "the colonies", Cluin, because the colonies have supplanted them AS the new British Empire, reincarnated in Washington D.C. The shift began as early as 1898, but it became totally obvious by the end of WWII.

The new version of the British Empire does not have official colonies, like in the old days, because that, like official slavery, is no longer deemed appropriate or acceptable.

It still has real colonies, though, lots of them, and they're all over the place. They are controlled by the flow of goods, media, and money and the threat (or the actual use) of military intervention against anyone who does not cooperate with that flow of goods, media, and money. They are places like: most of Latin America, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, much of Oceania, much of the Middle East, parts of the former Soviet Union, parts of Africa, various parts of Eastern Europe and Eurasia, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc......wherever there is something the Empire values. The sun never sets on the new Anglo-American Empire.

The power once vested in London simply moved across the ocean to America. London still plays a part, of course...a secondary role. And all of our collective history is written and re-written to reinforce the notion that everything really valuable and lasting has issued from the Anglo civilization to those "less fortunate"...trickling down to a greatful world which is only too happy to be ruled by Anglo guns, media, and money. ;-)