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Flag of the UK
UNION JACK
1. The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It has been in existence since 1606, when England and Scotland merged, but changed to its current form in 1801 when Ireland joined the United Kingdom.
2.The Body of the Flag
The flag consists of three heraldic crosses.
The cross of St George, patron saint of England since the 1270´s, is a red cross on a white ground. After James I succeeded to the throne, it was combined with the cross of St. Andrew in 1606.
The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground.
The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.
3.The History of the Flag
This was combined with the previous Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, after the Act of Union of Ireland with England, Wales and Scotland on 1 January 1801, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since.
4. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag. This is because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, the Principality of Wales by that time was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.
5. The History of the Name
While no one is quite certain where the term "Union Jack" originated, there are many theories. The term ´Union Jack´ possibly dates from Queen Anne´s time (1702-14), but its origin is uncertain. "Union" is thought to come from the union of the three flags into one. As for "Jack," One explanation states that the name may be derived from a proclamation by Charles II. It was the fact that the Union Flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack.
Others believe that "Jack" could come from the name of James I or from a soldier´s "jack-et" or from the name of James I (or Jacob, Jack in short) who originated the first union in 1603.
There are plenty of theories, but, in truth, the answer is that no one knows for sure where "Jack" came from.
6. The Modern Flag
The Union Flag was originally a Royal flag. When the present design was made official in 1801, it was ordered to be flown on all the King´s forts and castles, but not elsewhere. Today it is flown above Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham when The Queen is not in residence.
Copyright 05/4/2019 Anastasia
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