The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland uses as its national flag the royal banner locally known as the Union Flag or popularly Union Jack Historically, the flag was used throughout the former British Empire. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. It retains an official or semi-official status in many Commonwealth Realms. A Commonwealth realm is any one of 16 sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations that each have Elizabeth II as their respective Monarch The current design dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. The phrase Act of Union 1800 (or sometimes Act of Union 1801) (Acht an Aontais 1800 is used to describe two complementary Acts whose official United Kingdom titles are

Contents 1 Terminology 2 History 2.1 Before 1801 2.2 Other proposed versions 2.3 Since 1801 2.4 Campaigns for a new Union Flag 3 Status 4 Other ratios 5 Use in other flags 5.1 Other nations and regions 5.2 Ensigns 5.3 Pilot Jack 6 Flag days 6.1 Canada 6.2 United Kingdom 7 Specifications for flag use 8 Usage and disposal 9 Other names 10 See also 11 Further reading 12 References 13 External links

Terminology

Whether to use "Union Flag" or "Union Jack" is a matter of debate. One view is that "Union Jack" should be used only for the flag when it is flown as a jack (a small flag flown at the bow of a ship),^[1] but it is not universally accepted that the "Jack" of "Union Jack" is a reference to such a jack flag and is only an educated guess. A maritime flag is a Flag designated for use on Boats and other watercraft ^[2]

The Flag Institute, the vexillological organisation for the United Kingdom, stated that the term Union Flag is a "relatively recent idea". Founded on St George's Day, 23 April 1971 by William Crampton (later President of FIAV) and Captain EMC Barraclough CBE RN, the Flag Institute Vexillology is the scholarly study of Flags The word is a synthesis of the Latin word Vexillum and the suffix –''ology'', meaning "study It also noted that "From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". ^[3]

When the flag was introduced in 1606, it was known simply as "the British flag" or "the flag of Britain". The first use of the name "Union" appeared in 1625. The word 'jack' was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag. By 1627 a small Union Jack was commonly flown in this position. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called just "the Jack", or "Jack flag", or "the King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the Union Jack, and this was officially acknowledged. ^[3]

The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, it is possible that the term "Jack" did occur due to its regular use on all British ships using the "Jack Staff" (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). Even if the term "Union Jack" does derive from the jack flag (as perhaps seems most likely), after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by use, has appeared in official use, and remains the popular term. ^[4]

The BBC website does not use the term "union flag" because of its "great potential for confusion", preferring union jack (in lower case)^[5]. The Merchant Shipping Act 1995^[6] refers to the national colours of the United Kingdom as "the Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack) …". The Receiver of Wreck, a post defined under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 is an official of the British government whose main task is to process incoming reports National colours are frequently part of a country's set of National symbols.

The term "Union Flag" is less well known outside the United Kingdom^[7][8], and may refer to other union flags. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

History

Before 1801

When King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England and was crowned James I of England in 1603, the crowns of the Kingdom of England (which since 1535 had included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland were united in a personal union through him. Fort York National Historic Site is a historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe A personal union is the combination by which two different States are governed by the same Monarch, while their boundaries their laws and their interests remain distinct Despite this Union of the Crowns, each kingdom remained an independent state. The Union of the Crowns was the Accession of James VI, King of Scots, to the throne of England in March 1603 thus uniting Scotland and England ^[4]

On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent this regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (also representing Wales by implication), (a red cross with a white background, known as St George's Cross) and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire with a blue background, known as the Saltire or Saint Andrew's Cross) would be "joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The Flag of England is the St George's Cross. The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and The St George's Cross (or the Cross of St George is a centred red cross on a white background The Flag of Scotland is a white Saltire, a crux decussate (X-shaped cross representing the Cross of the Christian Martyr St Andrew's Cross redirects here For the item of BDSM furniture see Saint Andrew's Cross (BDSM A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross St Andrew's Cross redirects here For the item of BDSM furniture see Saint Andrew's Cross (BDSM A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross " This royal flag was at first only for use at sea on civil and military ships of both Scotland and England. ^[9] In 1634, its use was restricted to the monarch's ships. Land forces continued to use their respective national banners. After the Acts of Union 1707, the flag gained a regularised status, as "the ensign armorial of the Kingdom of Great Britain", the newly created state. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 It was then adopted by land forces as well, although the blue field used on land-based versions more closely resembled that of the blue of the flag of Scotland.

Various shades of blue have been used in the Saltire over the years. The ground of the current Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue, (Pantone 280), which can be traced to the colour used for the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy's historic "Blue Squadron". Navy blue is a dark shade of the Color Blue. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with white worn by officers in the Royal Navy since Pantone Inc is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA The Blue Ensign is a Flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) (Dark shades of colour were used on maritime flags on the basis of durability). A maritime flag is a Flag designated for use on Boats and other watercraft The currently accepted flag of Scotland however uses a lighter "royal" blue, (Pantone 300), following the Scottish Parliament recommendation of 2003. The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral

The blazon for the old flag, to be compared with the current flag, is Azure, the Cross Saltire of St Andrew Argent surmounted by the Cross of St George Gules, fimbriated of the second. In Heraldry and heraldic Vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of most often a Coat of arms or Flag, which enables a person to In Heraldry and Vexillology, fimbriation refers to small strips of colour (technically called " tincture " in this sense in heraldry placed around

Wales had no explicit recognition in the Union Flag because Wales, having been annexed by Edward I of England in 1282 and following the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, was legally part of the Kingdom of England and was therefore represented by the flag of England. Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally ^[10] (The present-day Flag of Wales and St David's Cross emerged, or re-emerged, in the 20th century: the former based on the historical emblem of Wales, the Red Dragon, and the latter based on the arms of the Diocese of Saint David's. The National flag of Wales is Y Ddraig Goch ( The Red Dragon) consisting of a Red dragon passant on a Green Flag of St David is normally a gold cross on a black field although it appears in many forms including a black cross on a gold field or with an engrailed cross In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. St David's ( Welsh: Tyddewi) is the smallest city in the United Kingdom, with a population of under 2000 people )

The Kingdom of Ireland, which had existed as a personal union with England since 1541, was likewise unrepresented in the original versions of the Union Flag. The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. ^[9]

The flag does remain in use, however, appearing in the canton of the Commissioners' Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board. The Northern Lighthouse Board ( NLB) is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man. This remains the only contemporary official representation of the pre-1801 Union Flag in the United Kingdom^[11] and can be seen flying from their George Street headquarters in Edinburgh. George Street may refer to People: George Edmund Street (1824&ndash1881 British architect George L Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow.

Taunton, Massachusetts, USA, has in recent years used a flag with the old style Union Flag (known locally as the King's Colours) as its city flag. Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The flag is of the same design as one used in 1774 in protest against the British government but not against the King. Likewise, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania has been known to fly a flag containing the Kings Colours since 1973^[12]. Westmoreland County is a County located in the US state of Pennsylvania.

This version of the Union Flag is also shown in the canton of the Grand Union Flag (also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colours), the first widely used flag of the United States, slowly phased out after 1777. The design and description of Flags typically uses specialised flag terminology' with precise and technical meanings and is hence a form of Jargon. The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colors, is considered Flags of the United States The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom alternating

Other proposed versions

Various other designs for a common flag were drawn up following the union of the two Crowns in 1603, but were rarely, if ever, used. ^[13] One version showed St George's cross with St Andrew's cross in the canton, and another version placed the two crosses side by side. Also, some Scots were upset that the Scottish flag was underneath the English flag in the version finally adopted, and preferred a version where the Scottish cross was on top (the English flag was placed between the cross of St Andrew and its background). ^[4]

Despite the flag representing a union of kingdoms, it has been suggested^[14] that the Union Flag be modified to include either the Red Dragon or flag of Saint David in order to represent Wales, despite Wales never having been a kingdom itself. Flag of St David is normally a gold cross on a black field although it appears in many forms including a black cross on a gold field or with an engrailed cross (This status also accounts for the absence of any Welsh symbol in the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is the official Coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The last symbol representing Wales, incorporated as part of the royal arms of Elizabeth I of England, ceased to be used following her death in 1603). ^[15]

Since 1801

The current Union Flag dates from 1 January 1801 with the Act of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Flag of England is the St George's Cross. The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally The Flag of Scotland is a white Saltire, a crux decussate (X-shaped cross representing the Cross of the Christian Martyr The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 Saint Patrick's Flag (Cros Phádraig is a flag of Ireland that features in the Flag of the United Kingdom. The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday The phrase Act of Union 1800 (or sometimes Act of Union 1801) (Acht an Aontais 1800 is used to describe two complementary Acts whose official United Kingdom titles are The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The new design added the red saltire cross of St Patrick's Flag for Ireland. St Andrew's Cross redirects here For the item of BDSM furniture see Saint Andrew's Cross (BDSM A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross Saint Patrick's Flag (Cros Phádraig is a flag of Ireland that features in the Flag of the United Kingdom. This saltire is overlaid on the saltire of St Andrew, but still beneath the cross of St George. The Flag of Scotland is a white Saltire, a crux decussate (X-shaped cross representing the Cross of the Christian Martyr The St George's Cross (or the Cross of St George is a centred red cross on a white background The Irish saltire is arranged counterchange with the saltire of St Andrew, so the white is always on the clockwise side of the red. The arrangement has introduced a requirement to display the flag "the right way up"; see specifications for flag use, below. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The additional white stripe is added (as with the St George's cross) to prevent "colour next to colour", a heraldic imperative. ^[16]

This Saint Patrick's cross is problematic in several ways. Firstly, the symbol does not have much emotional resonance since its history is so thin and hard to find; some believe that it was essentially 'invented' for the purposes of inclusion in the Union Flag. One possible origin is from the arms of the Fitzgerald family (Dukes of Leinster) who were sent by Henry II of England to aid Anglo-Norman rule in Ireland and has rarely been used as an emblem of Ireland by the Irish: a harp, a Celtic cross, a shamrock, or an Irish tricolour have been more common. The Duke of Leinster (referring to Leinster, but unlike the province pronounced " Lin -ster" is Ireland's premier peer The Duke of Leinster (referring to Leinster, but unlike the province pronounced " Lin -ster" is Ireland's premier peer The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a Cross with a ring surrounding the intersection The shamrock, a symbol of Ireland and a registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland, is a three-leafed old white Clover, sometimes of However, the exact origin of the flag is unknown, with evidence of saltires being present on ancient Irish coins and maps. The St Patrick's saltire flag has been used in more recent times for St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland and by both state and civil organisations wishing to avoid the sectarianism that may be implied by the use of either the tricolour or symbols of Unionism, including the recently formed Police Service of Northern Ireland. Saint Patrick (Patricius Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Roman Britain -born Christian Missionary and is the Patron saint Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the Police service that covers Northern Ireland.

The current flag is blazoned Azure, the Crosses Saltire of St Andrew and St Patrick, quarterly per saltire, counterchanged Argent and Gules, the latter fimbriated of the second, surmounted by the Cross of St George of the third, fimbriated as the saltire. In Heraldry and heraldic Vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of most often a Coat of arms or Flag, which enables a person to

Campaigns for a new Union Flag

In 2003, Nigel Turner started a private campaign — dubbed "reflag" or "union black" — to interpret the Union Flag as racial and introduce black stripes in it; the proposal was rejected as "ridiculous tokenism [that] would do nothing to stamp out racism". The term race or racial group usually refers to the concept of categorizing Humans into Populations or groups on the basis of various sets List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that ^[17]

Wrexham’s Labour MP Ian Lucas said, on 27 November 2007 in a House of Commons debate that the Union Flag should be combined with the Welsh flag to reflect Wales’ status within the UK, and that the Red Dragon should be added to the Union Flag's red, white and blue pattern ^[18]. Wrexham (Wrecsam is a town and principal area in Wales. It is the largest town in North Wales and lies to the east of the region The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the Ian Colin Lucas (born 18 September 1960, Gateshead) has been the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Wrexham in the Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The House of Commons is the name of the elected Lower house of the Bicameral Parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. He said the Union Flag currently only represented the other three UK nations, and Culture minister Margaret Hodge conceded that Mr Lucas had raised a valid point for debate. Margaret Eve Lady Hodge, MBE ( Née Margaret Oppenheimer born 8 September 1944, Cairo. She said "the Government is keen to make the Union flag a positive symbol of Britishness reflecting the diversity of our country today and encouraging people to take pride in our flag". This development sparked design contests with more or less serious entries from all over the world; some of the entries incorporated red dragons, St David's Cross or even anime characters into the Union Flag. Flag of St David is normally a gold cross on a black field although it appears in many forms including a black cross on a gold field or with an engrailed cross (anime in Japanese, ^[19][20]

Status

The Union Flag is used as a jack by commissioned Royal Navy warships, and by certain categories of Army and Royal Air Force vessels, though none are currently (June 2007) in commission. A maritime flag is a Flag designated for use on Boats and other watercraft The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. When at anchor or alongside, it is flown from the jackstaff at the prow of the ship. A jackstaff is a small vertical spar (pole in the bow of a ship on which a particular type of Flag, known as a jack, is flown The prow is the very most forward part of a Ship 's Bow that cuts through the water It can only be worn underway when the ship is dressed for a special occasion, or (when flown at masthead) to indicate the presence of an Admiral of the Fleet onboard; including the Lord High Admiral, the British Monarch. Admiral of the Fleet is a rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies equating to the NATO rank code OF-10 TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy ^[21] It may theoretically be flown to indicate that a court-martial is in progress, though these are normally held in shore establishments. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject

No law has been passed making the Union Flag the national flag of the United Kingdom: it has become one through usage. Its first recorded recognition as a national flag came in 1908, when it was stated in Parliament that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". A more categorical statement was made by the Home Secretary in 1933, when he stated that "the Union Jack is the National Flag". The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office But it is still officially a flag of the monarch, rather than the country. ^[4]

Civilian use is permitted on land, but non-naval/military use at sea is prohibited. Unauthorised use of the flag in the 17th Century to avoid paying harbour duties — a privilege restricted to naval ships — caused James' successor, Charles I, to order that use of the flag on naval vessels be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure". Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. It remains a criminal offence under the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc. ) Act 1993 to display the Union Flag (other than the "Pilot Jack" – see below) from a British ship.

The Court of the Lord Lyon, which has criminal jurisdiction in heraldic matters in Scotland, confirms that the Union Flag "is the correct flag for all citizens and corporate bodies of the United Kingdom to fly to demonstrate their loyalty and their nationality. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility " ^[22]

The Union Flag has been in use in Canada dating back to the British settlement in Nova Scotia in 1621. At the close of the Great Flag Debate of 1964, which resulted in the adoption of the Maple Leaf Flag as the Canadian national flag in 1965, the Parliament of Canada voted to make the Union Flag the symbol of Canada's membership of the Commonwealth and its allegiance to the crown. The Canadian Great Flag Debate took place in 1964 when a new design for the national flag was chosen The National Flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and fr l'Unifolié ( French for "the one-leafed" is a red Flag The move was a concession given to conservatives who preferred to keep the old flag, with its Union Flag in the canton. The Royal Union flag (as it is now known in Canada) is flown alongside the Maple-Leaf Flag on Commonwealth Day and other royal occasions and anniversaries^[23]

On 5 February 2008, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell introduced the 'Union Flag Bill' as a private member's bill as a 10-minute bill in the House of Commons. Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Andrew Richard Rosindell (born 17 March 1966 is a British Conservative politician A Private Member's Bill is a proposed Law introduced by a backbench member of Parliament, whether from the government or the opposition side to that The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords The Bill seeks to formalise the position of the Union Flag as the national flag of the UK in law, to remove legal obstacles to its regular display and to officially recognise the name 'Union Jack' as having equal status with 'Union Flag'. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland uses as its national flag the royal banner locally known as the Union Flag or popularly Union Jack The bill will receive its second reading on the 17 October 2008. ^[24]

Other ratios

Although the most common ratio is 1:2, other ratios exist. The British government's flag code book, Flags of All Nations, in section BR20 states that both 1:2 and 3:5 versions are official. ^[25]

The 3:5 version is most commonly used by the British Army and is sometimes known as the War flag. A war flag (or military flag) is a variant of a National flag for use by the nation's military forces on land Note that in this version two of the diagonals of the St Patrick's cross are not quadrilaterals, but are cut off or truncated.

The Queen's harbourmaster has a Union Flag that is longer than 1:2. The Queen's Colours are almost square and the red and white parts of the diagonal are of equal width. Ship's jacks can be square and have a square Union Flag in the canton. ^[26]

Use in other flags

Other nations and regions

The Union Flag was found in the canton (upper left-hand quarter) of the flags of many colonies of the UK, while the field (background) of their flags was the colour of the naval ensign flown by the particular Royal Navy squadron that patrolled that region of the world. The flag of Australia was chosen in 1901 from entries in a worldwide design competition held following Federation. The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and four red stars with white borders to the right The current Flag of Tuvalu was instated when the country became independent in 1978, after the separation from the Gilberts in 1976 Prior to ceding the country to British rule in 1874 the government of Fiji adopted a national flag featuring blue and white vertical The design and description of Flags typically uses specialised flag terminology' with precise and technical meanings and is hence a form of Jargon. In Heraldry, the background of the Shield is called the field. This article concerns the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Nations and colonies which have used the Union Flag at some stage have included Aden, America, Borneo, Ceylon, Cyprus, East Africa (Kenya), Gambia, Gold Coast (Ghana), India, Jamaica, Lagos, Malta, Mauritius, Nigeria, Palestine, Penang (Malaysia), Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somaliland, Tanganyika and Trinidad. Aden (ˈeɪdən Arabic: عدن) is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometers east of Bab-el-Mandeb. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. This article is about the British colony in west Africa 1821-1957 India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Lagos ( pron ˈleɪgɒs or /ˈlɑːgoʊs/ overseas is the most populous Conurbation in Nigeria with Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Penang (pəˈnæŋ Malay: Pulau Pinang) is a state in Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. Singapore Tanganyika is the name of an East African territory lying between the largest of the African great lakes Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and As former British Empire nations were granted independence, these and other versions of the Union Flag were decommissioned. The most recent decommissioning of the Union Flag came on 1 July 1997, when the former Crown Colony of Hong Kong was returned to China. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National ^[27]

All administrative regions and territories of the United Kingdom fly the Union Flag in some form, with the exception of Gibraltar (other than the government ensign) and the Crown dependencies. List of flags of GibraltarThe Flag of Gibraltar is an elongated banner of the Coat of arms of Gibraltar, granted by Royal Warrant Queen Isabella of Castile The Crown Dependencies are possessions of The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies of the United Outside the UK, it is usually part of a special ensign in which the Union Flag is placed in the upper left hand corner of a blue field, with a signifying crest in the bottom right. An ensign is a distinguishing Flag of a ship or a military unit or a distinguishing token emblem or badge such as a symbol of office

Four countries incorporate the Union Flag as part of their national flags: Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu and Fiji. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य

In former British colonies, the Union Flag was used semi-interchangeably with territorial flags for significant parts of their early history. This was the case in Canada until the introduction of the Maple Leaf Flag in 1965, but it is still used in the flags of a number of Canadian provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The National Flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and fr l'Unifolié ( French for "the one-leafed" is a red Flag British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Newfoundland and Labrador uses a modified version of the Union Flag, once the flag of the province. Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation Canadian practice allows the Union Flag, known in Canada as the Royal Union Flag, to be flown by private individuals and government agencies to show support for the Monarch and the Commonwealth.

Many other Australian flags retain the use of the Union Flag, including the Royal Australian Navy Ensign (also known as the Australian White Ensign), the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign, the Australian Red Ensign (for use by merchant and private vessels) and the Australian Civil Aviation Ensign. The Royal Australian Navy Ensign is the Ensign flown by ships of the Royal Australian Navy, correctly known as the Australian White Ensign or The Royal Australian Air Force Ensign is used by the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia and overseas The Australian Red Ensign resulted from the 1901 Commonwealth Government Federal Flag Design Competition which required two entries a flag for official use and one for the mecantile The Australian Civil Aviation Ensign is an Australian flag that was used by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority The flags of the six Australian States retain the Union Flag in the canton. The design and description of Flags typically uses specialised flag terminology' with precise and technical meanings and is hence a form of Jargon. The Vice-Regal flags of the State Governors retain the use of the Union Flag. See List of Australian flags for more information. This is a list of flags used in Australia: National Flag Indigenous Australians States and Territories ^[28]

The Basque Country's flag, the Ikurriña is also loosely based on the Union Flag, reflecting the significant commercial ties between Bilbao and the UK at the time the Ikurriña was designed (1894). The Ikurriña flag is a Basque symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomous Community of Spain Bilbao, (also Bilbo) in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque The Ikurriña flag is a Basque symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomous Community of Spain The Miskito people sometimes use a similar flag that also incorporates the Union Flag in its canton, due to long periods of contact in the Mosquito Coast. The Miskitos are a group of Native Americans in Central America. The design and description of Flags typically uses specialised flag terminology' with precise and technical meanings and is hence a form of Jargon. The Caribbean Mosquito Coast (or Miskito Coast) historically consisted of an area along the Atlantic coast of present-day Nicaragua, named after its native

The jack of the Russian Navy is a common equivalent to the British one with the St George's and St Andrew's crosses reversed in order and colours but unmistakably based on the same design. The Russian Navy or VMF ( Russian: Военно-Морской Флот (ВМФ России- Voyenno-Morskoy Flot Rossii (VMF or literally Military Maritime In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox

The Union Flag was used by the United States in its first flag, the Grand Union Flag. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colors, is considered This flag was the same design as the one used by the British East India Company. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or It also appeared on the South Africa flag as part of a central motif long after the country had gained independence from Great Britain. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Hawaii, a state of the United States, incorporates the Union Flag in its state flag. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The flag of Hawaii ( Hawaiian: Ka Hae Hawaii) is the official standard symbolizing Hawaii as a U The canton of the flag reveals the British influence over those islands in the late 19th century. This is the only current use of the Union Flag in any American state flag.

Ensigns

Main article: British ensigns. This article concerns the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories

The Union Flag can be found in the canton of several of the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. An ensign is a distinguishing Flag of a ship or a military unit or a distinguishing token emblem or badge such as a symbol of office These are used in cases where it is illegal to fly the Union Flag, such as at sea from a British ship. Similar ensigns are used by other countries (such as New Zealand and Australia) with the Union Flag in the canton. This is a list of flags used in New Zealand. National flag Royal and Viceregal Ensigns Associated This is a list of flags used in Australia: National Flag Indigenous Australians States and Territories Other countries (such as India and Jamaica) follow similar ensign etiquette as the UK, replacing the Union Flag with their own national flag. This is a list of flags used in India. National Flag Presidential Flag Civil Ensign Military Flags This is a list of flags used in Jamaica. National Flag Royal Standard Governor-General Ensigns

Pilot Jack

The flag in a white border occasionally seen on merchant ships was sometimes referred to as the Pilot Jack. It can be traced back to 1823 when it was created as a signal flag, never intended as a civil jack. A book issued to British consuls in 1855 states that the white bordered Union Flag is to be hoisted for a pilot. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire Although there was some ambiguity regarding the legality of it being flown for any other purpose on civilian vessels, its use as an ensign or jack was established well in advance of the 1864 Act that designated the Red Ensign for merchant shipping. The Red Ensign or " Red Duster " is a Flag that originated in the early 17th century as an Ensign flown by the Royal Navy. In 1970 the white-bordered Union Flag ceased to be the signal for a pilot, but references to it as national colours were not removed from the current Merchant Shipping Act and it was legally interpreted as a flag that could be flown on a merchant ship, as a jack if desired. This status was confirmed by the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc. ) Act 1993 and the consolidating Merchant Shipping Act 1995 which prohibits the use of any distinctive national colours or those used or resembling flags or pendants on Her Majesty's Ships, except the Red Ensign, the Union Flag with a white border, and some other exceptions permitted elsewhere in the Acts. The Red Ensign or " Red Duster " is a Flag that originated in the early 17th century as an Ensign flown by the Royal Navy.

Flag days

Canada

In Canada, the Royal Union Flag is flown on specified days from federal buildings, airports, military bases and other government buildings on the following days:

• Second Monday in March (Commonwealth Day)
• Victoria Day- the official birthday of the monarch (the Monday on or preceding May 24)
• December 11- the anniversary of the proclamation of the Statute of Westminster 1931

The flag is only flown where physical arrangements allow (e. Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office The Statute of Westminster 1931 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (22 & 23 Geo g. , when there is more than one flag pole). The flag of Canada is moved to make room for the Royal Union Flag only if the monarch is visiting. The National Flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and fr l'Unifolié ( French for "the one-leafed" is a red Flag

United Kingdom

In July 2007, British prime minister Gordon Brown unveiled plans to have the Union Flag flown more often from government buildings. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is [3] While consultation on new guidelines is underway, the decision to fly the flag may be made by each government department.

Previously the flag was generally only flown on public buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family, the wedding anniversary of the monarch, Commonwealth Day, Accession Day, Coronation Day, the Queen's Official Birthday, Remembrance Sunday and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament. The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. A wedding anniversary is the Anniversary of the date on which a Wedding took place Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey An Accession Day is an anniversary of the day on which a Monarch succeeds to the throne upon the death of the previous monarch Coronation Day is the anniversary of the Coronation of a Monarch, the day a king or queen is formally crowned and invested with the Regalia. "The Queen" in this article means the monarch of the Commonwealth Realms The Queen's Official Birthday (sometimes known as "the In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday of November the Sunday nearest to 11 November ( Remembrance Day) which is the anniversary The Union Flag is flown at half mast from the announcement of the death of the Sovereign (save for Proclamation Day), or upon command of the Sovereign. Half-staff or half-mast describes a Flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable ^[29]

The current flag days where the Union Flag should be flown from government buildings throughout the UK are:

• 20 January (Birthday of the Countess of Wessex)
• 6 February (Anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II)
• 19 February (Birthday of the Duke of York)
• Second Sunday in March (Commonwealth Day)
• 10 March (Birthday of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex)
• 21 April (Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II)
• 9 May (Europe Day)
• 2 June (Anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II)
• 10 June (Birthday of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• June (no fixed date) - Official Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II
• 17 July (Birthday of the the Duchess of Cornwall)
• 15 August (Birthday of the Princess Royal)
• Second Sunday in November (Remembrance Sunday)
• 14 November (Birthday of the Prince of Wales)
• 20 November (Anniversary of the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh)

In addition, the Union Flag should be flown in the following areas on specified days:

• 1 March (Wales only, for St David's Day)
• 23 April (England only, for St George's Day)
• 3 September (Scotland only, for Merchant Navy Day)
• The Day of the Opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament, Greater London only
• The day of the prorogation of a Session of the Houses of Parliament, Greater London only

However, on 30 November, (St Andrew's Day), the Union Flag can be flown in Scotland only where a building has more than one flagpole—on this day the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Sophie Countess of Wessex ( née Rhys-Jones, born 20 January 1965 is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of Prince Edward Earl of Wessex Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem "The Queen" in this article means the monarch of the Commonwealth Realms The Queen's Official Birthday (sometimes known as "the Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday of November the Sunday nearest to 11 November ( Remembrance Day) which is the anniversary Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Saint David's Day ( Welsh: Dydd Gŵyl Dewi) is the feast day of Saint David, the Patron saint of Wales, and falls on Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland St George's Day is celebrated by several nations kingdoms countries and cities of which Saint George is the Patron saint, including England, the Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats ^[30] This difference arose after Members of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day. Member of the Scottish Parliament ( MSP) ( Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ( BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected ^[31]

There is no specified flag flown on 17 March, (St Patrick's Day), in Northern Ireland. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Saint Patrick's Day (Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig) colloquially St Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of However, the St Patrick's saltire flag has been used in recent times for St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland by various organisations wishing to avoid the sectarianism that may be implied by the use of either the tricolour of the Republic of Ireland or symbols of Unionism such as the Union Flag of the United Kingdom or the former flag of Northern Ireland. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe.

Non-government organisations may fly the Union Flag whenever they choose.

Specifications for flag use

Correct way to fly the flag, assuming flagpole to the left.

Incorrect way to fly the flag, unless flagpole is to the right.

The flag does not have reflectional symmetry, due to the slight pinwheeling of St Patrick's cross, which is technically called the counterchange of saltires. Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. St Andrew's Cross redirects here For the item of BDSM furniture see Saint Andrew's Cross (BDSM A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross Thus, it has a right side and a wrong side up. To fly the flag the correct way up, the broad portion of the white cross of St Andrew should be above the red band of St Patrick (and the thin white portion below) in the upper hoist canton (the corner at the top nearest to the flag-pole), giving the Scottish symbol precedence over the Irish symbol. This is expressed by the phrases wide white top and broad side up. Traditionally, flying a flag upside down is understood as a distress signal. In the case of the Union Flag, the difference is so subtle as to be easily missed by many.

The normal proportions of the flag are 1:2, except in the British Army where a 3:5 version is used. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. The British Army's flag is the Union Flag, but in 1938 a "British Army Non-Ceremonial Flag" was devised, featuring a Lion on crossed blades with the St Edward's Crown on a red background. St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels. This is not the equivalent of the ensigns of the other armed services, but is used at recruiting and military or sporting events, when the Army needs to be identified but the reverence and ceremony due to the regimental flags and the Union Flag would be inappropriate. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel.

The colour specifications for the colours Union Flag (Royal) Blue, Union Flag Red and White are:^[32]

Scheme	Blue	Red	White	General Note: The colour schemes are not all congruent. This is due to different specifications for different types of media (for example, screen and print) * Not official; these are Wikimedia Commons' own conversions of the Pantone.
Pantone	280 C	186 C	Safe
Web-Safe Hex	#003399	#CC0000	#FFFFFF
MoD	8711D	8711H	8711J
NATO	8305. Pantone Inc is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA Web colors are Colors used in designing web pages and the methods for describing and specifying those colors The Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters The North Atlantic Treaty 99. 130. 4580	8305. 99. 130. 4584	8305. 99. 130. 4585
CMYK	100. CMYK (short for '''c'''yan, '''m'''agenta, '''y'''ellow, and k ey ( Black) and often referred to as process color 72. 0. 18. 5	0. 91. 76. 6	0. 0. 0. 0
RGB (Hex)*	0, 36, 125 (#00247D)	207, 20, 43 (#CF142B)	255, 255, 255 (#FFFFFF)

Usage and disposal

In general there are no prescriptions regarding the use and disposal of the flag in a manner akin to the United States Flag Code. Web colors are Colors used in designing web pages and the methods for describing and specifying those colors The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the Flag of the United States. This reflects its largely unofficial status as a national flag. There is no contemporary national concept of flag desecration, and a ritual such as flag burning would as likely be looked upon with amusement as disdain. Flag desecration is a term applied to various acts that intentionally deface a Flag, most often a National flag (though other flags can be defaced as well There is also no specific way in which the Union Flag should be folded as there is with the United States Flag, it should just be folded ready for the next use. ^[33]

Royal Navy Stores Duties Instructions, article 447, dated 26 February 1914, specified that flags condemned for further service use were to be torn up into small pieces and disposed of as rags (ADM 1/8369/56), not to be used for decoration or sold. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The exception was flags that had flown in action: these could be framed and kept on board, or transferred to a 'suitable place', such as a museum. (ADM 1/8567/245) ^[34]

Other names

• In Canada the flag is officially called the Royal Union Flag. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page
• In China the flag has the nickname Rice-Character Flag (米字旗 pinyin: mǐzìqí) since the pattern looks like the Chinese character for "rice" (米). China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use ^[35]
• In some countries, including Ireland, the Union flag is sometimes contemptuously termed the Butcher's Apron, because of its perceived association with the killing of civilian populations by English, and later British, forces. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world ^[36] In 2006, Sandra White, a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament, caused some controversy when she referred to the flag in this way. Sandra White (born on 17 August 1951 in Glasgow) is a Scottish politician The Scottish National Party (SNP (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba Scottis Naitional Pairtie is a Centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish Member of the Scottish Parliament ( MSP) ( Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ( BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected ^[37][38]

See also

• List of British flags — flags used within the United Kingdom. This is a list of Flags that have either been in use or are currently used by the United Kingdom and related territories
• Gallery of flags by design
• Cross
• Union Jack Club, London
• Other "Union Flags":
  • African Union Flag
  • American Grand Union Flag
  • European Union Flag
  • Kalmar Union Flag
  • Soviet Union Flag
  • Sweden-Norway Union flags

Further reading

• Nick Groom (2007). This is a gallery of Flags arranged by design Solid See also Gallery of solid flags Four examples Bicolour See also A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half The Union Jack Club is a residential London club for members (and families of the British Armed Services, including serving members of the Volunteer Reserve London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The flag of the African Union is composed of a broad green horizontal stripe at the top followed by a narrow band of gold. The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colors, is considered The Flag of Europe is the flag and emblem of the European Union (EU and Council of Europe (CoE The Flag of the Kalmar Union was derived from the Dannebrog, bearing a Christian Cross. The flag of the Soviet Union consisted of a plain Red flag, with a hammer crossed with a sickle (the Hammer and sickle) and a Red star in Norway and Sweden were in a personal union from 1814 to 1905 According to the constitution of November 1814, Norway was to have its own merchant flag The Union Jack: The Story of the British Flag. Atlantic Books. ISBN 9781843543374.  

References

External links

• United Kingdom at Flags of the World
• The Lyon Court: Flags
• Monochrome Union Flag not flown to avoid controversy
• British flags during The Protectorate and the Commonwealth of England – see external link
• British Monarchy — Union Flag
• BBC page for 400th anniversary of flag
• How to draw the Union Jack

The Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday Newspaper published by Post Publications Limited. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For a list of flags see List of flags or Gallery of flags by design. In British history, the Protectorate was the period 1653&ndash1659 during which the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland was governed by a Lord The Commonwealth of England was the Republican government which ruled first England (including Wales) and then Ireland and Scotland

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