Flag of United Kingdom
Colors
#012169
#C8102E
#FFFFFF
Meaning & Symbolism
The Union Jack combines three crosses: the red cross of St George (England), the white diagonal cross of St Andrew (Scotland), and the red diagonal cross of St Patrick (Ireland). Wales is not directly represented.
History
The first Union Flag (1606) combined England and Scotland. In 1801 the cross of St Patrick was added after the union with Ireland. The name "Union Jack" was originally only used at sea.
Curiosities
The flag is not symmetrical: St Patrick's cross is offset. If you hang it upside down, it's a distress signal. Wales doesn't appear because it was already part of England when the first version was created.
