The Union Jack

The flag of the United Kingdom is a symbolic layering of three other flags ~ the  English, Scottish and Irish. It also features on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tuvalu and eighteen Overseas Territories. The protocols for flying the Union Jack state that only the Royal Standard takes precedence in this country.

The Welsh flag is omitted, as England had already annexed Wales long before the flag was designed. This is a matter of recent debate (since a red dragon would be an admirable addition to the middle of the crosses).

King James VI & I (1566-1625) brought England and Scotland under one crown and commissioned a new flag to represent the union in 1606. Some Scots objected to the red English cross being on top, but it was initially intended for maritime use and it is thought that this is where it acquired the name ‘Union Jack‘, as it was attached to the jack staff on the bow. In 1801 the Irish cross was inserted and it was at this point that the design lost its symmetry and it became possible to make the blunder of flying it upside down, unless intentionally signalling a call for help!

Example of Union Jack flown upside down (the broad white diagonal should be above the red on the flagpole side): rawpixel.com / CC0

(Top image: Karen Arnold at pubicdomainpictures.net / CC0)

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