United Kingdom Flag

What does the flag of the United Kingdom look like? The United Kingdom's flag is blue with a white-bordered red cross and white and red X in the center.

Meaning of the Flag

The United Kingdom’s flag is one of the most recognized in the world. The flag is also known as the Union Flag or the Union Jack. The flag’s design is quite interesting, as is the story behind the design. The flag is made up of several different elements. Breaking it down, the flag of the United Kingdom. The cross of Saint George, the patron saint of England, is superimposed on the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. These are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew, who was the patron saint of Scotland.

Colors of the Flag

The colors of the flag of the United Kingdom are red, white and blue. These colors are based upon the Saltires and crosses of the patron saints of England, Ireland and Scotland.

History of the Flag

During the 16th century, the original flag flown in Scotland featured Saint Andrew’s Cross. Around the same time period, England and Wales flew a flag featuring St. George’s Cross. In Ireland, the cross of Saint Patrick adorned the flag. In the early 1700s, the flag of Great Britain combined St. George’s Cross superimposed on the Cross of St. Andrews. The current design incorporated St. Patrick’s Cross, and this design was first adopted in 1801. The same design remains in use today.

Flag Facts

Even though the flag seems to be symmetrical, it is not. The white lines above and below the diagonal lines are of different widths.

It is considered offensive to some people to fly the flag upside down. However, it is generally acceptable to fly the flag upside down as a signal of distress.

The flag is flown on several designated days including the birthdays of royalty, Saint Patrick’s Day, Saint Andrew’s Day and the opening day of Parliament.