Flag Of Great Britain
The Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain was the royal banner known as the King's Colours. The design dated from the early 17th century, when it was ordered by King James I and VI to be used on ships on the high seas, and it subsequently came into use as a national flag with the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George, patron saint of England, superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. Its correct proportions are 1:2.
The flag's official use came to an end in 1801 with the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. At that time Saint Patrick's Flag was added to the flag of Great Britain to create the present-day Union Flag.
Read more about Flag Of Great Britain: Creation
Famous quotes containing the words flag and/or britain:
“Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;”
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)
“I’ll stay until I’m tired of it. So long as Britain needs me, I shall never be tired of it.”
—Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925)