What is the story behind union jack?
The design is of three crosses, one for the patron saints of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The thick upright red cross is the cross of St. George for England, the white X (saltire cross) is the cross of St. Andrew for Scotland, and the narrow red X or saltire cross if the cross of St. Patrick for Ireland. The combination of the two crosses actually predates the Union of Scotland and England in 1707. The Union of 1801 added Ireland to the United Kingdom as a single state. Previous to those acts of union, the realms were united under the same crown, a personal. Thus the British King was the King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
