.... Historical sequence as to the
formation of the Union Jack
The Union Jack is a complex flag in that it is comprised of the flags of three nations, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and further complicated by the fact that the three national flags consist of crosses in one form or another.
In March 1603 Elizabeth I of England died without an heir. Elizabeth's Ministers invited James VI , King of Scotland, to accept the Crown of England, thus he simultaneously became James IV of Scotland and James I of England.
The two countries remained independent
but under his single Monarchy he now called his new realm the 'Kingdom
of Great Britain'.
Three years later the Act of
Union united England and Scotland.
Flag A.
Flag B.
Flag C. (1st.Union Jack)
+ 
= 
Year 1606
St.George's Cross.
St. Andrew's Saltire.
Kingdom of Great Britain.
(England)
(Scotland)
After almost another two hundred years, Ireland joined, and was included
in the Union, resulting in a second updating The independence in 1921
of the southern part
of Ireland as the Irish Free State did not result in any change to the Union
Flag. :-
Flag C (1st. Union Jack)
Flag D
Flag E.(2nd. & final Union Jack.)
+ 
= 
Year 1801
Kingdom of Great Britain St.
Patrick's Saltire Great Britain.
(Now U.K.)
(Nr.Ireland)
Whilst recognising the Union
Jack as their national flag, the three member nations still retain their original
flags ,which are in everyday use. Wales was considered to be part of England
in 1606, otherwise FOUR flags would have had to be combined...Difficult
when the Welsh
flag is a dragon!:-
...........................................................................
As a further complication, Scotland
also has a Royal Banner, which was used by whichever King or Queen
occupied the throne before the Act of Union, when Scotland was an independent
Kingdom. This Banner also, is more or less in everyday use.
:-
............................................................................
Northern Ireland too, has it's own
national flag, which I presume, but do not know for sure, to be in daily
use. (Perhaps someone might correct me if this be the case if anyone has
read thus far? :)
:- 
............................................................................
So that,, depending upon where you
are in the U.K., it is possible to see any one of the following :-
.
UK
England
Scotland
Ireland
Wales
Royal Banner of Scotland
............................................................................
Confused? No need to be. Despite all the foregoing,
the National flag of the United Kingdom is :-
Tha...Tha...Tha...That's all folks! (More than enough?)
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