Union Jack: The Historic Crosses of Saint George, Andrew and Patrick

Flag of the United Kingdom

The Union Jack or Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom. While no law has been enacted making the Union Flag the national flag of the United Kingdom, it has become so through precedent.

The flag overlays three crosses, each representing a constituent country of the United Kingdom. England is represented by the red cross of Saint George edged in white, Scotland is represented by the white saltire of Saint Andrew on a blue field, and Northern Ireland is represented by the red saltire of Saint Patrick edged in white. The remaining constituent country, Wales, is not represented in the flag because the earlier flag of Great Britain was designed while Wales was part of the Kingdom of England.

The origins of the flag date to the earlier flag of Great Britain which was established in 1606 by a proclamation of King James VI and I of Scotland and England. The present design was established by an order in council following the Act of Union 1800, which joined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was unchanged following the secession of the Irish Free State in 1922.

The flags of British Overseas Territories, as well as certain sovereign states and regions (particularly in the Commonwealth) that were previously British possessions, incorporate the Union Jack into their own flag designs or have official flags that are derived from the Union Jack. Many of these flags are blue or red ensigns with the Union Jack in the canton and defaced with the distinguishing arms of the territory. The governors of British Overseas Territories and the Australian states also have personal standards that incorporate the Union Jack in their design. The flag continues to have official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is also known as the Royal Union Flag.