Flag of the United Kingdom
Officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
What the flag looks like
The Union Jack: a blue field with the red cross of St George edged in white, over the white diagonal cross of St Andrew combined with the offset red diagonal cross of St Patrick.
What it means
It combines the crosses of the patron saints of England (St George), Scotland (St Andrew) and Ireland (St Patrick).
How to remember it
Three saints' crosses layered on blue fill the whole flag: if the Union Jack is only a small corner of a blue flag with stars, think Australia
, New Zealand
or Tuvalu
instead.
Fun facts
- Wales is not represented on the flag because it was already united with England when the first Union Flag was created in 1606.
- The flag is not symmetrical: correctly flown, the broader white diagonal is above the red one on the half nearest the flagpole.
United Kingdom at a glance
- Capital
- London
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Population
- 69 million
- Area
- 242,900 km²
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- British pound (£)
- Flag adopted
- 1801
Flags often confused with the United Kingdom
- Australia: Australia's flag has the United Kingdom's Union Jack in its upper-left corner. The UK flag is the Union Jack alone, while Australia adds a dark blue field with white stars.
- New Zealand: New Zealand uses the United Kingdom's Union Jack in its corner. The UK flag is the Union Jack alone; New Zealand's has a dark blue field with four red stars on the right.
- Tuvalu: Tuvalu uses the United Kingdom's Union Jack in its corner. The UK flag is the Union Jack alone; Tuvalu's has a light blue field with nine yellow stars.
- Fiji: Fiji uses the United Kingdom's Union Jack in its corner. The UK flag is the Union Jack alone; Fiji's has a light blue field with a shield on the right.