Flag of the United Kingdom
The national flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Jack, also known as the Union Flag.
| Union Flag, Union Jack, British flag, UK flag | |
| Use | National flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 1 January 1801 |
| Design | A white-fimbriated symmetric red cross on a blue field with a white-fimbriated counterchanged saltire of red and white. |
| Alternative 3:5 ratio | |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Red Ensign | |
| Use | Civil ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | A red field with the Union Flag in the canton. See Red Ensign. |
| Blue Ensign | |
| Use | State ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | A blue field with the Union Flag in the canton. See Blue Ensign. |
| White Ensign | |
| Use | Naval ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | A symmetric red cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the canton. See White Ensign. |
| Royal Air Force Ensign | |
| Use | Air force ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | A field of air force blue with the Union Flag in the canton and the RAF roundel in the middle of the fly. |
The design of the Union Jack dates back to the Act of Union 1801, which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (previously in personal union) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England, which also represents Wales), edged in white, superimposed on the saltire of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), also edged in white, which are superimposed on the saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). Wales is not represented in the Union Flag by Wales's patron saint, Saint David, because the flag was designed whilst Wales was part of the Kingdom of England.
The flag proportions on land and the war flag used by the British Army have the proportions 3:5. The flag's height-to-length proportions at sea are 1:2.
The earlier flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 by a proclamation of King James VI and I of Scotland and England. The new flag of the United Kingdom was officially created by an Order in Council of 1801, with its blazon reading as follows:
The Union Flag shall be azure, the Crosses saltire of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick quarterly per saltire, counter-changed, argent and gules, the latter fimbriated of the second, surmounted by the Cross of Saint George of the third fimbriated as the saltire.
No official standardised colours were specified, although the Flag Institute defines the red and royal blue colours as Pantone 186 C and Pantone 280 C, respectively.