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1606-1707 (ships at sea); 1707-1801 (Great Britain)[]

Union flag 1606 (England)

Flag of Great Britain (English version)

Union flag 1606 (Scotland)

Flag of Great Britain (Scottish version)

This royal flag was, at first, to be used only at sea on civil and military ships of both England and Scotland, whereas land forces continued to use their respective national banners. In 1634, King Charles I restricted its use to the royal ships. After the Acts of Union 1707, the flag gained a regularised status as "the ensign armorial of the Kingdom of Great Britain", the newly created state. It was then adopted by land forces as well, although the blue field used on land-based versions more closely resembled that of the blue of the flag of Scotland.

Notably, the home country of Wales is not represented separately in the Union Jack, being only indirectly represented through the flag of England representing the former Kingdom of England (which included Wales).

1801-present[]

Flag of the United Kingdom

The present design of the Union Flag dates from a Royal proclamation following the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

The flag combines aspects of three older national flags: the red cross of St George of the Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland (which two were united in the first Union Flag), and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland.

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