CIRCA - 1606 🇬🇧 - a fibriated red cross of Saint George superimposed on diagonal red saltire of Saint Patrick + white saltire of Saint Andrew, all against a dark blue field

HISTORY: Officially the Union Flag, national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain + Northern Ireland, it represents the

union of England, Scotland, & Ireland under one sovereign.

The flag evolved in stages, 1st under King James VI / I to represent the joining of his crowns of England & Scotland by

combining their respective standard crosses, followed by a version in 1707 when Wales† was officially included with the formation

of Great Britain, then updated again in 1801, with the formation of the UK and addition of a 3rd cross to represent Ireland;

The term "Union Jack" originated from the Flag's use as a small banner flown from the jackstaff on British warships.

[The civil version has the Union Jack in the canton on a red field]

† Wales🔍 is not specifically represented in the Union Jack because, annexed by England in 13c, (and confirmed by the 1536–1543 Laws in Wales Acts, which legally subsumed Wales) it wasn't considered a separate sovereign nation - a (lack of) status that is still somewhat controversial today amongst the Welsh

VEXILLOLOGY:* Combining elements from each of the countries being joined, the flag represents unity;

• The RED SAINT GEORGE ✚ CROSS  - represents ENGLAND🔍

• The WHITE 𓏵 SALTIRE of SAINT ANDREW - represents SCOTLAND🔍 

• The RED 𓏵 SALTIRE of SAINT PATRICK - represents IRELAND🔍

• The  BLUE Field  was taken from the old Royal Navy ensign, represents the sea🔍, central to Britain's history; honoring the maritime heritage & naval power of the United Kingdom.

  
  

* The STUDY of FLAGS; their history, symbolism, usage, and design. From Latin vexillum - referring to a Roman military standard / flag (from velum= cloth/ covering/sail/curtain

[PIE🔍 root weg = to weave / to cover]) + Greek suffix -logia = study]