Union Jack England Scotland Wales
The union jack is a fine expression of unity as well as diversity.
Union jack england scotland wales. British life and culture england scotland and wales. Wales wasn t considered a separate entity to england at the time. During our research we were intrigued by the manner in which the union jack represents the four countries of the united kingdom. The union flag image.
It is often stated that the union flag should only be described as the union jack when flown in the bows of a warship but this is a. The flag is also. The current design of the union jack dates from the act of union 1801 which united the kingdom of great britain and the kingdom of ireland previously in personal union to create the united kingdom of great britain and ireland the flag consists of the red cross of saint george patron saint of england. The national flag of the united kingdom is the union jack also known as the union flag.
In this way the kingdoms of scotland and england were united in the person of james. According to the parliament of the united kingdom. A flag containing three other flags. The current flag also known as the union jack or union flag is a representation of this unification.
The british flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries england scotland and northern ireland. In fact its name union jack emphasises the very nature of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland as a union of nations. The scots feared that they would simply become another region of england. The first version of the union jack was designed after 1603 when james vi of scotland inherited the english and irish thrones thereby uniting the crowns of england scotland and ireland.
The story of the united kingdom and the union flag. The union flag the flag of the united kingdom uk. The terms union jack and union flag are both used historically for describing the national flag of the united kingdom. England scotland wales and.
Uniting the kingdoms of scotland and england had been proposed for a hundred years before it actually happened in 1707. We ve been a fan of this flag for some time and became even more interested in its history when we created our wooden union jack replica. The two flags of england and scotland were combined but wales as part of england would be represented only by st george s cross. Whether the term union jack applies only when used as a jack flag on a ship is a matter of debate.
Suspicion and mistrust between the two countries had prevented the union throughout the 17th century. The united kingdom uk was formed from the unification of england scotland northern ireland and wales. Until the early 17th century england and scotland were two entirely independent kingdoms. Few flags are as recognizable as the union jack the national flag of the united kingdom.