United Kingdom

Information about the British Flag: Colors and Meaning of the Flag of United Kingdom

:: Meaning of the United Kingdom Flag ::

The United Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. It is called the Union Flag because it symbolizes the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. The shape and flag ratio of the United Kingdom Flag is described as 1:2 (length twice the height). The current Union Flag dates from 1 January 1801 with the Act of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain making it one of the oldest flags in the world.

The individual flags of England, Scotland and of Northern Ireland united under one Sovereign represent the Union Flag. As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag. As the picture above shows, the colors of the British flag are: red, blue and white. The pattern of the flag consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white, superimposed on the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). The British flag seems to be a symbol of Christianity.

:: Meaning of the British Coat of Arms ::

The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch, and is officially known as her Arms of Dominion. The coat features both the motto of British Monarchs: “Dieu et Mon Droit”, “God and My Right.” and the motto of the Order of the Garter: “Hon Y Soit Qui Mal Y Pense”, “Shame to him who evil thinks.” The arms have remained unchanged since Queen Victoria. The shield reflects the British history and shows the various royal emblems of different parts of the United Kingdom: three gold lions with their right forepaws raised and their heads facing the viewer in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. The shield is supported by the English lion on the left and Scottish unicorn on the right.