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The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the Union Jack or Union Flag,〔(The Flag Institute ): "It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that “the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag”."〕 is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The current design of the Union Jack dates from the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. It consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). Wales, however, is not represented in the Union Flag by Wales's patron saint, Saint David, as at the time the flag was designed Wales was part of the Kingdom of England. The flag's correct height-to-length proportions are 1:2.〔(United Kingdom, flag of the ), for flag ratio see flag caption〕 However, the version used by the British Army modifies the proportions to 3:5 and also crops two of the red diagonals. The earlier flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 by a proclamation of King James VI and I of Scotland and England.〔A.C. Fox-Davies, ''The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory'' (1904, reprinted 1986, ISBN 0-906223-34-2), p. 399: "By the King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle and Kingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe the Red Crosse, commonly called St George's Crosse, and the White Crosse, commonly called St Andrew's Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed"|James VI and I|Orders in Council; Official creation of the Union Flag – 1606."〕 The new flag of the United Kingdom was officially created by an Order in Council of 1801, reading as follows: ==Flying the flag== The Union Flag can be flown by any individual or organisation in Great Britain on any day of their choice. Legal regulations restrict the use of the Union Flag on Government buildings in Northern Ireland. Long-standing restrictions on Government use of the flag elsewhere were abolished in July 2007.〔Department for Culture, Media and Sport: ''(Flag Flying )''〕〔(The Governance of Britain ), for flying the Union Flag, see pp. 57–58〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Flag of the United Kingdom」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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