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Flag Ratio: 1:2
The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. "Union Flag" has been the name preferred in official documents since the late 19th century. "Union Jack" is the traditional name, and remains more popular, though it's strictly speaking incorrect, since a jack is for use only at the prow of a ship.
| File:Uk flag 1606.png |
| Original Union Flag of 1606 |
The creation of the original Union Flag started in 1603 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England and on April 12, 1606 the first 'Union Flag' was created. It was a superposition of the red cross of St. George of England and the St. Andrew's saltire of Scotland. Note however that the ground of the Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue. The blue ground of the Scottish national flag, the Saltire, from which the blue ground of the Union Flag is derived, is a lighter "sky" blue. The Welsh flag never became part of the Union Flag as it had been annexed by Edward I of England much earlier on and so was considered part of the kingdom of England.
The current Union Flag dates from January 1, 1801 with the Act of Union with Ireland. The new design added the red saltire cross attributed to St. Patrick for Ireland. The saltire is counterchanged to combine it with the saltire of St. Andrew. The red cross actually comes from the heraldic device of the Fitzgerald family who were sent by Henry II of England to subjugate Ireland and has never been used as an emblem of Ireland by the Irish.
The Union Flag was originally a royal flag, rather than a national flag. In fact, no law has ever been passed making it a national flag, but it has become one through usage. Its first parliamentary recognition as a national flag came in 1908, when it was declared that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". A more categorical statement was made by the Home Secretary in 1933, when he stated that "the Union Flag is the National Flag".
The Union Flag is found in the canton (top left-hand corner) of the flags of many former colonies of the UK, notably Australia and New Zealand. In both countries, the Union Flag was used semi-interchangeably with their national flags for significant parts of their early history. It was also flown in Canada until the Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson introduced a new flag in 1965.
Regarding to flying it the correct way up, the broad white band on St. Andrew should be above the red band of St. Patrick in the upper hoist canton (the corner at the top nearest to the flag-pole).
External links:
Flags of Countries within the United Kingdom
England - Northern Ireland - Scotland - Wales
Flags of the Channel Islands:
Alderney - Guernsey - Herm - Jersey - Sark
Naval/Airforce/Army Flags
Blue Ensign - Red Ensign - White Ensign
Other Flags