Life in the UK Test
Sign in
Back to A Long and Illustrious History

The crosses of the Union Flag

Study note

The Union Flag, often called the Union Jack, is made up of the crosses of three patron saints layered on top of one another. The cross of St George of England is a red cross on a white ground. The cross of St Andrew of Scotland is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground. The cross of St Patrick of Ireland is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

A common test point is that the Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag. The reason is that Wales had already been united with England by the time the flag was created, so it was not given a separate symbol. So if a question lists the Welsh dragon as part of the flag, that is the false or untrue statement. The three crosses to remember are St George, St Andrew and St Patrick.

Memory tip: Union Flag = St George (England) + St Andrew (Scotland) + St Patrick (Ireland). No Welsh dragon.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 4

Whose cross, a red cross on a white ground, represents England on the Union Flag?

Score so far: 0 / 0
Show all questions and answers for The crosses of the Union Flag(4 questions with explanations)

The crosses of the Union Flag: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Whose cross, a red cross on a white ground, represents England on the Union Flag?

    • St Patrick
    • St David
    • St Andrew
    • St George

    Correct answer: St George

    The cross of St George, a red cross on white, represents England.

  2. 2. The diagonal white cross on a blue ground on the Union Flag represents which country?

    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Ireland
    • England

    Correct answer: Scotland

    The cross of St Andrew, a diagonal white cross on blue, represents Scotland.

  3. 3. The Welsh dragon appears on the Union Flag.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: False

    False. Wales is not represented on the Union Flag because it was already united with England.

  4. 4. Which statement about the Union Flag is NOT true?

    • It includes the cross of St Andrew for Scotland
    • It includes the Welsh dragon for Wales
    • It includes the cross of St George for England

    Correct answer: It includes the Welsh dragon for Wales

    The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag; Wales was already united with England.

Back to A Long and Illustrious History, or try a mock test or timed exam.