The story of the United Kingdom
and the Union Flag.
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.
Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew
(a diagonal white cross form (called a saltire) on a blue field)
England is represented by the flag of St. George
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.
Irland is represented by the cross of St. Patrick
(a diagonal red cross on a white background)
The St. Patrick´s Cross remains in the flag even though today only Nothern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
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.
In 1536, under Henry VIII, the Act of Union joined England and Wales officially.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF UNITED KINGDOM
FOR MORE GAMES AND INFORMATION ABOUT
THE UNITED KINGDOM,
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW.
