Admit it, times have been hard for the UK recently. First, the result of the EU membership referendum left many - even among the winning side - in shock. The value of the pound plummeted and the prime minister announced his intention to quit. Then underdogs Iceland kicked England out of Euro 2016 in humiliating style.

So German paper Zeit Online decided it needed to cheer the Brits up a bit and show they were still appreciated. The best way to do this it decided was to ask its readers to list things they like about the UK.

And did they respond! The hashtag #WeLoveUKBecause quickly started trending in Germany. Thousands of people used it, confirming their affection for the island nation.

#WeLoveUKBecause of your amazing humor pic.twitter.com/wKojIgmYHH

— Sascha Pallenberg (@sascha_p) June 28, 2016

#WeLoveUKBecause ... 16,141,241 Brits voted remain!

— Annabel (@rainybels) June 28, 2016

Apparently, the German are true lovers of many things British, as they have demonstrated with their tweets. A variety of aspects of British life were mentioned, from culture to sport to food and weather.

#WeLoveUKBecause you are truly iconic. pic.twitter.com/ykDmGJrvMn

— Jerome (@jeronimo_jerome) June 30, 2016

I love Great Britain, because it's the home of parliamentarian democracy and melting pot of many cultures.#weloveUKbecause

— Georg Rosenbaum (@rosenbaumg0) June 28, 2016

Of course, there was tea. "You can make cups of tea like no one else and it is the answer to every single problem!" one person tweeted.

#WeLoveUKBecause A love of pubs, Sunday Roast, talking about the weather, and a soothing cup of tea to ease worries pic.twitter.com/8VYYchN22n

— Johanna Reis (@JoReisCA) June 30, 2016

"#WeLoveUKBecause of Doctor Who, breakfast, very friendly people everytime, black humor, lovely landscape and - yes, the weather!" another user tweeted. Others said "your #pubculture is unique".

#WeLoveUKBecause you gave us more wonderful writers & novels than we could ever imagine possible! Oh, and sarcasm to confuse Americans with.

— Gutter Bookshop (@gutterbookshop) June 28, 2016

"Music, TV and film wouldn't be the same without all your talent and your dry, dark humour," one tweet said. And they weren't alone. Many expressed their fondness for Monty Python and Sherlock. And some Germans clearly have an abiding admiration for the late great Margaret Rutherford, the original big screen Miss Marple.

#WeLoveUKBecause what would nerds and geeks do without your brilliant actors and BBC's special skills #WhoLock <3 pic.twitter.com/uo6GSEn24F

— AntjiBatji (@antjibatji) July 1, 2016

I like #TGIF #WeLoveUKBecause --> Great music and best bands ever pic.twitter.com/aoAHN4OLtV

— meet Frank @Hamburg (@meet_in_hamburg) July 1, 2016

#WeLoveUKBecause BFBS. BFBS UK and Tommy Vance. We heard the tunes that made us dance. BFBS and Tommy Vance



Yes. I'm THAT old. *sob*

— Heinrich IX ヘンリー九世 (@drhuch) July 1, 2016

#WeLoveUKBecause you gave us world class music.



OK, not as good as Rammstein or Kraftwerk, but pretty good.

— Oxblood Ruffin 3.0 (@OxbloodRuffin) June 28, 2016

#WELOVEUKBECAUSE It's the land of rock ;)

— #Kidrauhl (@RickBizzleRauhl) November 15, 2015

And what could be more British than queuing.

#WeLoveUKBecause they invented the DEEP FRIED SNICKERS BAR. And GIN TONIC! And THE WAITING QUEUE!



Love that! pic.twitter.com/fCajZsE2DE

— (((Bussi))) (@Bussi72) June 28, 2016

That tweet wasn't the only mention of British food. "#WeLoveUKBecause whoever survives such breakfast habits and such weather apparently owns [an] adorably viable set of genes," one said.

#WeLoveUKBecause whoever survives such breakfast habits and such weather apparently owns a adorably viable set of genes.

— Patriarchator (@patriarchator) June 28, 2016

#WeLoveUKBecause Apple Crumble, cream teas, Chocolate Hob Nobs, Bitter Mints and above all: clotted cream, yum ;-)

— Werner Burk (@werner_burk) July 1, 2016

Many also pointed out the general friendliness of the nation. "Strangers call you 'love' or 'darling' and somehow that feels really nice," a user said.

Allsorts, Quality Street, lemon curd #WeLoveUKBecause #candystorm

— Heidi Schall (@heidischall) July 1, 2016

And beautiful landscapes were also mentioned.

#WeLoveUKBecause of its great humour (#fawltytowers ), high tea, Pimms and punting, #shakespeare and of course.... London <3!

— Julia Riss (@juliaBXL) July 1, 2016

"Some of the most stunning places I've ever seen. The Highlands, Edinburgh, Beachy Head, multiple beautiful towns & villages."

It was all going so well. But there's always at least one.

#WeLoveUKBecause now we have our own North Korea in Europe

— (((Ode Golth))) (@OdeGolth) June 28, 2016

But all in all, if you are British and you have had a bad week, don't feel sad! There are people out there who love you!

#WeLoveUKBecause you saved the world. (td) pic.twitter.com/kClFGSSFLF

— ZEIT ONLINE (@zeitonline) June 28, 2016