Project Britain

Your Guide to
British Life, Culture and Customs

British Culture
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British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales

The Making of the Union Flag

Woodlands Junior School is in the south-east corner of England

....... A compromise was the answer and it led to the creation of the first Union Flag.

On 12 April 1606, the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use at sea, thus making the first Union 'Jack'. Ashore however, the old flags of England and Scotland continued to be used by their respective countries.

A royal decree declared that the ships of the Kingdom of Great Britain "shall bear on their maintops the red cross, commonly called St. George's cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew's cross."

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The first Union Flag (1606)

When the red cross of England was put onto the flag of Scotland, a white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry. (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each other.)

On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, this flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use ashore and afloat.

The Act of Union of 1707, joined England and Scotland together, creating a single kingdom with a single Parliament called 'United Kingdom of Great Britain'.

England Wales and Scotland were now united together under one monarch and one parliament.

The Royal Navy christened the British flag " The Union".

Interesting Fact:
When the 'Union Flag' was first introduced, in 1606, it was known simply as 'the British flag' or 'the flag of Britain'.

Nearly one hundred years later, another country was added to the Union flag ....

Learn about England and the other countries in Britain
from the children who live in ther

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All the materials on these pages are free for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from Mandy Barrow, Woodlands Junior School.