The history of the UK Flag

The story of the United Kingdom and the Union Flag.

A flag containing three other flags.

The Union Flag - the flag of the United Kingdom (UK)

The Union Flag, popularly known as the *Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag.
It is called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.
The following pages will tell you how the Union Flag (Union Jack) came to be the UK's national flag and the making of the United Kingdom.

Словарь новых слов (1)

it is made up of - образован
united - объединенный

Sovereign - монарх

 St George - England

The National Flag of England

England is represented by the flag of St. George

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In 1194 A.D., Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George, a red cross on a white ground, as the National Flag of England.

At this point in the story on the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were separate countries. However, this was soon to change.... In 1536, under Henry VIII, an Act of Union was passed making Wales, in effect a province of England.

 Словарь новых слов (2)

on a white ground - на белом фоне
this was soon to change - это должно было вскоре измениться
separate  - отдельный

 

St Andrew - Scotland

The National Flag of Scotland

Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew
(a diagonal white cross form (called a saltire) on a blue field)

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After Queen Elizabeth I of England died in 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James I of England. It was a Union of the Crowns, but not yet of the nations. Each country still kept their own parliaments.

Early in his reign James attempted to combine England and Scotland in a united kingdom of 'Great Britain'.This was the policy he presented to his first Parliament, called on 22 March 1604. The union was resisted.

James defied them. On 20 October 1604 he proclaimed a new title for himself as 'King of Great Britain'.

But what flag should be used?

A problem arose, which flag should be hoisted on the king's ships. English sailors resented the Scottish colours and the Scots scorned the cross of St. George .

Словарь новых слов (3)

inherited - унаследовал
parliament - парламент
reign - царствование
attempt - пытаться
combine - комбинировать, сочетать в себе
the union was resisted - объединение было отвергнуто
the king defied - король игнорировал
proclaim - провозгласить
arise, arose - возникать
be hoisted - поднимать (о флаге)
resented - обижались
scorned - презирали

In 1606 the problem was solved ........

The Making of the first Union Flag

 A compromise was the answer and it led to the creation of the first Union Flag.
On 12 April 1606, the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use at sea, thus making the first Union 'Jack'. Ashore however, the old flags of England and Scotland continued to be used by their respective countries.
A royal decree declared that the ships of the Kingdom of Great Britain "shall bear on their maintops the red cross, commonly called St. George's cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew's cross."

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The first Union Flag (1606)

When the red cross of England was put onto the flag of Scotland, a white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry. (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each other.)
On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, this flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use ashore and afloat.

The Act of Union of 1707, joined England and Scotland together, creating a single kingdom with a single Parliament called 'United Kingdom of Great Britain'. England Wales and Scotland were now united together under one monarch and one parliament.

The Royal Navy christened the British flag " The Union".

Nearly one hundred years later, another country was added to the Union flag ....

The Making of the Union Flag  Northern Ireland - St Patrick
Ireland is represented by the cross of St. Patrick  (a diagonal red cross on a white background.) ------------------------------------------------ On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was represented. The cross St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since. + The cross of St. Patrick was inserted so the position given to St. Andrew's Cross in one quarter was the same as that given to the Irish one in the diagonally opposite quarter; in heraldry this is known as "counterchanging" The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed showing how the saltires (diagonal crosses) are counterchanged. The 'new' British flag is not symmetrical because of the counterchange. As Scotland joined the Union nearly two hundred years before Ireland, St Andrew's Cross was placed uppermost in the top quarter nearest the flagstaff, this being the most honourable position according to heraldry, while the Irish Cross was given the second most honourable position, the top quarter of the fly. In order to avoid having the red of the Irish Cross directly upon the blue field of the Scottish one an edging of the white field of the Irish Cross is used. The symbols of Scotland and Ireland are placed sided by side on the Union Flag. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland were now all joined together and called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The name was later changed to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland when the greater part of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1921. NB. The St. Patrick's Cross remains in the flag even though today only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

Словарь новых слов (5)

has been flown ever since - вывешивается с тех пор

was inserted - был включен

honourable - почетный
uppermost - верхний
the flagstaff (the flagpole) - древко флага
the fly - край флага

To summarize...

1603 - King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James I of England.

1606 - the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use at sea, thus making the first Union Flag

The first Union Flag (1606)

1707 - during the reign of Queen Anne, the first Union Flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use ashore and afloat.

1801 - Ireland was united with Great Britain and the present Union Flag was formed.

The Union Flag consists of the three heraldic crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick.

The flags of the Patron Saints of England, Scotland and Ireland are represented on the Union Flag. But, why is Wales not represented on the Union Flag?

Начало формы

Конец формы

The Welsh dragon

Why doesn't the Welsh dragon appear on the Union Flag?

The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England from the 13th century. This meant that Wales a Principality instead of a Kingdom and as such could not be included.

What would the Union Flag look like if Wales was represented?

In November 2007, a Welsh MP, Ian Lucas, asked parliament why Wales is not represented in the Union Jack. Of course, we have the answer here on our website, but what if Wales was represented, what would the flag look like?

Below you can see Ian Lucas' version of the Union flag with Wales represented:

Словарь новых слов (7)

MP - member of parliament - член парламента

Principality - княжество

How to fly the Union Flag correctly

How to fly the Union Flag correctly How can you tell if it is upside down?
Please don't fly the Union flag the wrong way up! The broader (wider) diagonal white stripe should be at the top on the side of the flag nearest the flagpole.  Correct Way Wrong way The UK flag is NOT entirely symmetrical! You can rotate the flag and it still will be the right way up but you can't invert it (not refective symmetry). Look at the white diagonals and you will see why. On the side next to the flagpole, (the hoist side), the thick white band is above the red band on both diagonals, the white band being part of the cross of St Andrew, the Scottish flag and the red band being part of the cross of St Patrick, the Irish flag. The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed showing how the saltires (diagonal crosses) are counterchanged. The cross of St Andrew is above that of St Patrick at the hoist because the cross was added to the flag before St Patrick's cross, therefore the cross of St Andrew is entitled to the higher position On the side that flutters free, the fly side, this is reversed, with the Irish flag being above the Scottish flag. This flag is upside down because the narrow white bands are on top. To deliberately fly the flag upside down is a signal indicating a situation of 'DISTRESS'. It is also "lese Majeste" (which means: insulting the Crown), and is theoretically still a crime in the UK and its commonwealth! Словарь новых слов (8) upside down - вверх ногами rotate - поворачивать вокруг оси invert - переворачивать stripe = band - полоса at the hoist - у древка флага insulting the Crown - оскорбление короны crime - преступление

When is the Union Flag Flown?

The Union Flag is flown on government buildings on days marking:

• the birthdays of members of the Royal family,
• Commonwealth Day, 11th March
• Coronation Day, 2nd June
• The Queen's official birthday, June
• Remembrance Day* , 10th November
• on the days of the State Opening  (November) and prorogation of Parliament.

It is also flown on:
St David's Day (Wales), 1st March
St George's Day (England), 23d April
St Andrew's Day (Scotland),30th November
 St Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland), 17th March
* The Queen, the Prime Minister  lay wreaths and observe a minute's silence (at 11am) at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who gave their lives for their country in both world wars. Afterwards, the Bishop of London takes a short service of remembrance.
 

lay wreaths -   возлагать венки

a minute's silence – минута молчания

the Bishop - епископ