The Union Jack flag is made up of the Saltire of St Andrew for Scotland and St Patrick for Ireland — a saltire is the heraldic name for the diagonal cross-look — together with the cross of St George for the Kingdom of England. As Wales was a principality at the time the flag was created, not a kingdom, it is not represented in the design.
Before Ireland’s emblem was added, there was actually an earlier flag back in 1606— the original Union Flag — with just Scotland and England present.
Curious about the difference between Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the British Isles?
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