"decided to declare victory before all the votes were counted, since the popular vote was obviously going the wrong way."

That somehow reminds me of something we've been talking about here recently...

But enough of thread drift. As DavidO says, the British Prime Minister isn't head of state. I don't think there are any countries in the European Union where the head of State is an active politician, apart from France, and even there in most things he's in a weaker position than their Prime Minister.

Taking office for the Prime Minister in London technically happens I think when he or she is summoned to the palace, and kisses the hand of the Queen, which doesn't happen in public. There's no transition, unless you count the couple of hours between the election results coming through (after any necessary recounts) and the trip to the palace.

I suppose the nearest thing to a pledge of allegiance is that all MPs are supposed to take an oath of allegiance before they take their seat, though now they are allowed to affirm instead of swearing. That is the sticking point for Sinn Fein MPs, who won't take it, so they don't take their seats, while still being MPs.

But no ordinary citizen ever takes anything like an oath or pledge of allegiance. Maybe you do if you are getting naturalised, I don't know.

As for the flag - well, I suppose that in certain circumstances defacing it could count as behaviour liable to lead to a breach of the peace, and you could be pulled in for it. So could waving it around provocatively, I suppose. The relevant thing is, is what you are doing likely to start a fight in the street? Burning a Union Jack might well, on some streets - but kicking a cat would be pretty certain to.

As for rituals designed to inspire patriotism for the English. Showing old war films on the telly is about the only thing I can think of. Royal pageantry is jolly enough, but hardly anything to do with patriotism. Not as much as Morris dancing I'd say.