With the Scottish independence referendum likely to be held again, the UK may really want to reconsider the Union Jack and may need to replace it with a new Union Jack.
The new British flag after Scottish independence
Even if the British Empire collapses, the Union Jack remains an internationally recognized symbol of the United Kingdom. But that could all change soon. Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom (along with England, Northern Ireland and Wales) and will hold a referendum on Scottish independence in September this year. If successful, Britain's iconic symbol, the Union Jack, may need a makeover.
A recent survey by The Flag Institute found that nearly 65% of respondents believed the Union Jack should change if Scotland became independent. And after the vote, the group found itself inundated with suggestions to replace the logo.
The current Union Jack
The history of the Union Jack is closely intertwined with the history of the United Kingdom. After Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, her cousin King James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne as James I of England. As the first union of England united, James attempted to symbolize his two countries with a new flag rule in 1606. He designed the traditional Union Jack, known as St. George's Cross, to be superior to the traditional Scottish flag, known as St. Andrew's. cross.
The Evolution of the Union Jack
England and Scotland remained independent countries with separate parliaments, royal courts and flags until they were fully united under the Act of Union in 1707. Queen AnneThe symbolic emblem of James I was subsequently adopted as the national flag of the British Empire. When Ireland was annexed to the United Kingdom in 1801 to form the modern United Kingdom, the Union Jack was added to the cross of Ireland St. Patrick to create the modern Union Jack. The design of the flag did not change after Ireland's independence in the mid-20th century, as St. Patrick's Cross still represented Northern Ireland, which was still part of the United Kingdom.
The Union Jack does not represent every member. Although England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, Wales is not. Because Wales was annexed by England centuries ago.
The official emblem of Wales and the emblem of St David (not the Welsh flag)
The British authorities awarded the Red Dragon flag to Wales, but attempts to add the Welsh symbol to the Union Jack were unsuccessful. In 2007, Welsh members of Parliament unsuccessfully proposed adding a Welsh dragon emblem. The iconography may involve more than just the dragon: like Britain's other three nations, the patron saint of Wales, St. David, has a black and gold emblem to represent him.
If Scotland remained in the UK, merging Wales into the Union Jack might be as simple as adding a yellow border.
Scotland remains in the UK in the new British flag (including the flag of Wales)
Without Scotland in the UK, the proposal becomes more diverse.
New British flag without Scotland, including Wales
Added two colors from the cross of St. David, as in the design below.
Integrating the official Welsh flag element seems to be a better choice than using the distinctive color scheme of St David's flag.
New Union Jack pattern integrating the Welsh flag
Another proposed design for the new Union Jack pattern is to differentiate the flag into four quadrants , with St George crossing England in two quadrants and St Patrick's Cross Northern Ireland and Wales in the other quadrant The dragon is last.
Quadrant-based designs have similar royal standards, which also translate each country's heraldic symbols into different quadrants. Some designers drew on royal influences. The next one is superimposed on the current royal standard laurel wreath.
New Union Jack pattern
Inspired by another design of the monarchy superimposed on the royal coat of arms, the modified Union Jack. The wreaths surrounding the coat of arms represent the various realms of the monarch: white roses for England, thistles for Scotland, shamrocks for Ireland, maple leaves for Canada, and so on.
New Union Jack Pattern
But perhaps the boldest design of all is John Yates’s “United Britain,” a unique cross-shaped design based on the Union Jack that Ashburner called “unlike anything currently in existence.” Other flags
”
New British flag?
Will the Scottish independence referendum produce a new British flag this time? If so, what will the new British flag look like? We'll see.
