The ground of the current Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue ( Pantone 280), while the currently accepted Saltire uses a lighter "royal" blue (Pantone 300), following the Scottish Parliament's recommendation of 2003. Various shades of blue have been used in the Saltire over the years. It was then adopted by land forces as well. Land forces continued to use their respective national banners.Īfter the Acts of Union 1707, the flag gained a regularised status, as "the ensign armorial of the Kingdom of Great Britain", the newly created state. In 1634, its use was restricted to the monarch's ships. This royal flag was at first only for use at sea on civil and military ships of both Scotland and England. Until the Acts of Union 1707 it was practice for the flag in Scotland to have the Saltire over the St George's Cross and vice versa when flown in England. On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent this personal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross with a white background, known as St George's Cross) and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire with a blue background, known as the Saltire or Saint Andrew's Cross) would be "joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects." The original sketches which accompanied this specification are lost. When James VI of Scotland inherited as James I of England in 1603, the crowns of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland were united in him, although each remained independent states. The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 refers to the national colours of the United Kingdom as "the Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack)". The BBC website disregards the term "union flag" because of its "great potential for confusion", preferring union jack (in lower case) The term "Union Flag", on the other hand, is the term preferred in official documents by vexillologists. Even if the term "Union Jack" does derive from the jack flag (as perhaps seems most likely), after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by usage, has appeared in official usage, and remains the popular term. The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was nicknamed the "Union Jack" considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, it is possible that the term "Jack" did occur due to its regular usage on all British ships using the "Jack Staff" (a flag pole attached to a ship on the bow). The word Jack may have come from the name of James VI, King of Scots who inherited the English crown, causing the flag to be designed, that is Jac from Jacobus, Latin for James. The term possibly dates from the early 1700s, but its origin is uncertain. Although it is often asserted that "Union Jack" should only be used for the flag when it is flown as a jack (a small flag flown at the bow of a ship), it is not universally accepted that the "Jack" of "Union Jack" is a reference to such a jack flag other explanations have been put forward.
The issue of whether it is acceptable to use the term "Union Jack" is one that causes considerable controversy. Terminology: "Union Flag" or "Union Jack"? The current design (which is used as the national Flag of the United Kingdom) dates from the Union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. It still retains an official or semi- official status in many Commonwealth Realms. Historically, the flag has been used throughout the former British Empire. The Union Flag (commonly, the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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