Question about the Union Jack...?

Question

I know the Union Jack flag is supposed to be made up of the crosses ot the countries within the British Union: St George, St Andrew & St Patrick...but where is the Welsh cross?

Answer 1

The simple answer is, there's no Welsh cross. The Welsh flag is a red dragon on a white and green background.

The cross of St David is a gold cross on a black background, but that can hardly represent the nation when a national flag already exists.

There are still some people that believe that the Union Jack should be called the Union Flag, because a jack is flown on a ship. However, the term Union Jack is officially recognised in respect of the Union Flag, statute having been passed to allow it. (I don't recall the Act, but it's been passed.)

I'm quite happy for the Welsh Dragon not to appear on the Union Jack. It's nice to have a flag that is particularly our own.

Answer 2

Technically the Union Flag belongs to the monarch. All flags at one time were created for Kings, countries never had flags because the country was the property of the King. No Act of Parliament in the UK has ever changed this, though any citizen of the UK is allowed to fly the flag on land. Only the Monarch and the Royal Navy are allowed to fly the flag at sea. When flown from the jackstaff of a Royal Navy warship (the small staff at the bow) it is called the Union Jack.



The first Union flag was created when James I ascended the combined kingdom of England and Scotland in 1605. It was simply a combination of the English flag of St George and the Scottish flag of St Andrew. It was designed only for use at sea and the first reference to the flag as the Union Jack came a year later in 1606. At that time Wales had been a conquered state and simply a province of England for over 200 years.



In 1801, Ireland was united with England and Scotland. The Union Jack was modified to accommodate the Irish flag of St Patrick, but this had to be done in such a way that the white diagonal cross of St Andrew was not obliterated. That is why the diagonal white stripes are of different widths. The broad white stripes represent both the white background to the cross of St Patrick and the white diagonal cross of St Andrew. The flag is only flown correctly when the broad white stripe is uppermost on the hoist (the side of the flag nearest the pole or staff). Flying the flag upside down is not, and never has been, a sign of distress. It is simply an insult.

Answer 3

The Union Flag (aka Union Jack) is indeed a combination of the English, Irish and Scottish flags of national saints, but not Welsh.



The current design dates from the Act of Union in 1801, when the red/white St. Patrick's saltire (Ireland) was added to the earlier combination of red/white St. George's cross (England) and blue/white St. Andrew's saltire (Scotland). The order of layering is St. George's on top of St. Patrick's on top of St. Andrew's.



The addition of a Welsh Dragon to the centre of the flag has been proposed but not, as yet, established.



The term 'Union Jack' is commonly used when the flag is flown from a ship as a jack, but this not exclusively so - the term is often used elsewhere.

Answer 4

Wales isn't there. Actually, nor is Ireland. The red saltire added to the superimposed flags of England and Scotland has never been the flag of any country or region. Somehow sticking a dragon and a shamrock on top would make the flag a bit cluttered.



BTW It's only the Union Jack when it's the little version flying from the pole at the front of a ship. Otherwise it's the Union Flag.

Answer 5

In the 16th Century, the navy flew small flags known as jacks on the ships as identification. The Union Flag, on a ship, was therefore known as a Jack. Due to the public support of the Navy, the Union Flag was referred to as the union jack. As we are now 400 years after the term was first used, and it's been constaintly interchangeable since then, people who correct the misuse are really only pedantic in pointing it out. Both terms can be used, and considered 'correct'.

Answer 6

Wales was under English rule prior to the treaty of Union with Scotland and therefore does not appear on the flag, and ofcourse Northern Ireland didn't exist, Ireland being a single entity at the time of the treaty.



The cross represented in each flag is named after the patron saint of each country: St. George, patron saint of England, St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland and St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.

Answer 7

Not sure if there is any welsh on it but they wont be putting a dragon on the flag. The flag is part of history and it wouldnt be changed now.

Answer 8

England and Scotland had power and sovereignty over the British isles. Their flags were imposed in the Union Jack because of this. Although Ireland and Wales probably don;t like to hear it, they weren't as strong a warrior nation as the other two. This is especially because of the marriage between the English monarch and land owners of Scotland.



In fact, the problems in Northern Ireland are the direct result of sending scottish Nobel's to Northern I Ireland. (by order of the King of England, James 1).

Answer 9

never saw a flag from wales with a cross on it before

Answer 10

Wales was not party to the treaties of 1707 or 1801, so is not constitutionally represented.

Answer 11

whales inst on the flag, but they were on about putting there dragon on it recently though so you can be hopeful if you want. i am i would love a dragon on our flag

p.s. i wasnt saying that whales anted there dragon on the flag, i ws saying higher ups had discused