Last Updated on November 14, 2024 by Tracey Roberts
British Flag: The Union Jack is a flag that has been used by the United Kingdom for centuries. The origins of the flag are complicated, but it was first introduced in 1606 when King James I of England and VI of Scotland passed an Act of Parliament uniting the kingdoms into one country called Great Britain.
In 1801, Ireland joined this union to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1922 when they split.
Today, there are three parts to this once united country: England, Scotland and Wales with Northern Ireland being a part as well since 1973- though not represented on the Union Jack due to its use as a symbol for Irish independence from British rule during their fight for freedom in 1916-21.
An easily recognisable feature of the UK is the Union Jack flag, with its striking blue, red and white colours. In fact, the Union Jack is probably the most recognisable flag in the world.
However, did you know that the Union Jack is steeped in interesting facts and tidbits?
Here are 5 amazing facts that we bet you didn’t know about the British flag!
5 Facts about the British Flag:
1. The Union Jack is not the actual name of the UK flag.
When the term, “Union Jack” is mentioned, the British flag almost always comes to mind.
The Union Jack has been the name for the British flag for as long as everyone can remember but this is not the true name of the flag.
Centuries ago, the term, “Union Jack” was only used when the British flag decorated ships and was flown at sea.
Back on land, most people would refer to the British flag as the Union Flag but many would later on call it “The Union, Jack”.
It was only in 1902 when the UK government officially announced that the British flag would be widely known as the Union Jack.
2. The Union Jack was originally designed by King James I of Scotland.
After he famously inherited both the Scottish and English thrones, King James I decided to design the Union Jack in 1606.
King James I was known to be creative and artistic and had a great eye for detail.
The initial thinking behind his design was to create a recognisable flag that was an obvious combination of both kingdoms and easily recognisable worldwide.
The result was the combining of the English and Scottish crosses and this flag came to be known as the Union Jack.
In 1801 after they joined the United Kingdom, the nation of Ireland was added to the flag and the design modified.
3. It is composed of three other flags in addition to the English flag.
If you look closely, you will notice that the Union Jack consists of three other flags- that of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Breaking the flag down into its separate elements, you can see that there are 3 clearly-defined heraldic crosses, one from the patron saint of each devolved nation.
England is represented by Saint George, while Wales’ patron saint has a white cross against a white background and is not visible on the flag.
Saint Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland and is depicted with a diagonal white cross on a blue background.
Northern Ireland’s patron saint is Saint Patrick, who is represented by a diagonal red cross with a white background.
4. The iconic blue shade of the Union Jack has evolved over time.
The famous blue colour on the Union Jack is so well-known that it could be patented. However, this blue shade has evolved over time and has not always been the same hue.
Today, the Union Jack features the widely-recognisable, deep navy blue shade referred to as Pantone 280.
In days gone by, this same shade of navy blue was used by the Royal Navy in their Blue Squadron. In addition, this navy blue hue could be seen on many other navy squadrons.
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5. 23 Countries around the world use the Union Jack (British Flag).
You know that the Union Jack represents England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, but are you aware that it is also used in many other countries throughout the world?
A whopping 23 countries around the world use the British flag for official purposes (most of these countries are former colonies and part of the Commonwealth).
Many former British colonies feature the Union Jack somewhere in their new flag designs and you only have to look at small British territories and islands to see that this is true.
Larger countries, such as Australia and New Zealand have a strong British heritage and continue to proudly fly the Union Jack as part of their own flags.
The New Zealand government has recently had discussions around the relevance of the Union Jack in their flag, though, and they may soon have a referendum to do away with it. Their new, proposed flag would have a silver fern that makes reference to the country.
Several decades ago, Canada adopted the Maple Leaf as the main element in their flag and removed the old, Red Ensign Flag that referred to its British origins.
This move was very popular amongst its citizens as the general consensus was that the new flag was far more representative of their independence from Britain.
The US state of Hawaii continues to feature the Union Jack in its state flag and does not plan on changing this any time soon.
Conclusion: British Flag
The Union Jack has evolved a lot over the years and is used by many nations around the world. Whether it’s been in your country for centuries or you’ve just discovered its beauty, don’t hesitate to fly this flag with pride!
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Read more helpful guides:
How to renew your British Passport in Australia
British Passport renewals & applications from Canada
