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The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland uses as its
national flag the royal banner locally known as the Union
Flag or, popularly, Union Jack (although this name is
the only one that is correct when the flag is flown on a
jackstaff at sea). The current design of the Union Flag dates
from the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. It consists
of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England),
edged in white, superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint
Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are superimposed on the
Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).
Its correct
proportions are 1:2. However, the version officially used by the
British Army modifies the proportions to 3:5.
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