United Kingdom (British Flag) (Union Jack) (UK) GB Mouse Mat

This design features the national flag of the United Kingdom, which is also known as the Union Jack. The flag is also known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It dates back to the early 17th century, when James I had inherited the English and Irish thrones, which allowed him to united England, Ireland and Scotland under a single monarchy, and it is made up of the red and white flag of England (St George's Cross), the blue and white flag of Scotland (the Saltire or St Andrew's Cross) and the red saltire of St Patrick, which symbolises Ireland. It has had the same design since the Act of Union 1800. The first Union Flag from 1603 combined the flag of Scotland with the flag of England. The flag of Scotland is a Saint Andrew's Cross, because Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. The flag of England is Saint George's Cross, because Saint George is the patron saint of England. When the present United Kingdom started in 1801, the Saint Patrick's Cross became a part of the Union Flag. Saint Patrick's Cross was a flag representative of Ireland, because Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Cross is a red saltire (a diagonal cross) with a white background. The flag of Scotland is blue with a white saltire. The flag of England is white with a red horizontal cross. The combine together to make the Union Flag, representing the United Kingdom as a whole.