United Kingdom Flag

Cross of St George: Red cross on white ground, representing England (patron saint since the 1270s). Cross Saltire of St Andrew: Diagonal white cross on blue ground, representing Scotland. Cross Saltire of St Patrick: Diagonal red cross on white ground, representing Ireland. Combined Design: The three crosses unite the kingdoms under one Sovereign. The Welsh dragon does not appear because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.

The Union Flag evolved through three main stages. First, the cross of St George represented England since the 1270s. In 1606, after James I succeeded to the throne, it was combined with the cross of St Andrew to create the first Union Flag. Finally, on January 1, 1801, the cross saltire of St Patrick was added after the Act of Union of Ireland with England (and Wales) and Scotland, creating the current design that has been flown ever since. The Union Flag was originally a Royal flag, and the term 'Union Jack' possibly dates from Queen Anne's time (1702-14), though its origin is uncertain - it may derive from the 'jack-et' of English or Scottish soldiers, the name of James I who originated the first union in 1603, or from Charles II's proclamation that the flag should be flown only by Royal Navy ships as a 'jack' (small flag at the bowsprit).

Complex heraldic design combining three crosses: Red Cross of St George (vertical and horizontal) on white field for England, White Cross Saltire of St Andrew (diagonal) on blue field for Scotland, and Red Cross Saltire of St Patrick (diagonal) on white field for Ireland. The crosses are superimposed with specific precedence rules - St George's cross appears on top, St Andrew's cross appears in blue quarters, and St Patrick's cross is offset to avoid overlapping St Andrew's cross completely.

Today flown above Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham when The Monarch is not in residence. The Royal Arms of Scotland (Lion Rampant) is flown at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Balmoral when The Monarch is not in residence. On news of a Royal death, the Union Flag is flown at half-mast (the Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast as the Sovereign never dies - the new monarch immediately succeeds). Flying on public buildings is decided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at The Monarch's command. Flown on Government buildings on days marking Royal Family birthdays, Commonwealth Day, Coronation Day, The Monarch's official birthday, Remembrance Day, and during State Opening and prorogation of Parliament.