The national flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Flag, is also known as the Union Jack flag.
The Union Jack Flag, as it is popularly called, symbolizes the union of the countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is a creation that includes elements of most the flags of Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. Significantly, the flag of Wales is excluded.
The national flag of England came into being beginning with Richard I who used St. George’s Cross – a white background with a red cross on it – to symbolize England – in 1194.
In 1603, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. It took him three years to find a way to marry the two countries, and flags, into what then became known as Great Britain. In 1606, he revealed the new flag, which incorporated both the Scotland flag and the English flag. The Scotland flag, until that time was a blue flag with a white X-shaped cross on it, known as the Cross of St. Andrew. A white border was added around the red cross as a show of heraldry at the time. The new flag continued to bear the white X, but had the red St. George’s Cross laid over the top of it. This flag was for use at sea only, ending debates between the English sailors and the Scottish sailors as to which flag to fly. It was not until 1707 that this new flag was made, by royal proclamation, the national Flag of Great Britain, by Queen Anne.
Almost one hundred years later, another country was added to the flag. January 1, 1801, Ireland was joined with Great Britain, making it necessary to create a new flag. Ireland had flown a flag that had a white background with a red X-shaped cross known as the Cross of St. Patrick. When the new flag was revealed, half of the St. Patrick cross had been inverted over the Cross of St. Andrew, with the Cross of St. George maintaining its’ original position. These made the flags of Scotland and Ireland have equal standing under the flag of Great Britain. Thus, The Union Flag was created representing all three countries under one ruler. Although only Northern Ireland remains with Great Britain, the St. Patrick’s Cross remains on the flag.
The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Jack flag because at the inception of the first Union Flag in 1606, Wales had been a principality of England for nearly 300 years. If Wales were to have been represented, most likely the flag would have had the Welsh dragon in the middle of the joined crosses, but who knows!
There is the possibility of changes in the Union Jack as the government of the future sees fit, with devolution and other changes.
The young people of Great Britain tend to identify themselves by their independent countries such as being Welsh or Scottish rather than as being British. In fact, when a poll was taken recently, it was found that many people believe it is time for Scotland and England to separate as independent countries again. So, further change to Great Britain’s Union Jack definitely possible and that cannot simply be overlooked. After all, it’s tradition to change the Union Jack flag as Great Britain changes.
