THE ORIGINS OF THE BRITISH FLAG
In 1194 A.D. Richard I of England introduced the red cross of St George, as the national flag of England. At this point the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - were separate countries. In 1536, Henry VIII passed an ‘Act of Union’ making Wales in effect a province of England. After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne to become King James I ‘A Union of the Crowns, but not yet the nations’.
By 1604 James I proclaimed a new title for himself - ‘King of Great Britain’. A problem arose as to which flag they should hoist up onto the Kings ships. The Blue and White flag of St.Andrew or the red and white flag of St.George? In 1606, a compromise was made - the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use at sea, thus making the first ‘Union Jack’. For reasons set out in the rules of heraldry, where it is demanded that two colours must never touch each other, a white border was introduced to the new flag. 1701, Queen Anne proclaimed that the National Flag of Great Britain was to be used both ashore and afloat. England Wales and Scotland were now united under one Monarch and one Parliament. The Royal Navy christened the British flag ‘The Union”. 1801, Ireland united with Great Britain, now requiring a new national flag. The red cross of St.Patrick was combined with the Union flag of St George and St Andrew, to create the ‘Union Flag’ that has been flown ever since.
