National and subnational
flags of the
United Kingdom.
United Kingdom Countries of the United Kingdom The flags of England and of Scotland are ancient war flags which became by usage the national flags of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and of the Kingdom of Scotland respectively and continued in use until the
Act of Union 1707. Thereafter, they were as
de facto flags of those parts of the United Kingdom. The flag of Wales was formalised in 1959, but has ancient origins; the dragon was used as a battle-flag by countless Welsh rulers, the current flag being a redesign of the flag carried by
Henry Tudor. The
Flag of Northern Ireland is controversial. The coat of arms of the Government of Northern Ireland, a red cross on a white field,
defaced with a
Red Hand of Ulster within a six pointed star topped with a crown, became used as a local flag, though the end of the province's Government in 1973 ended its official status. This flag has continued to be the internationally recognisable de facto flag of Northern Ireland through its use by international sporting organisations (for example
FIFA,
UEFA, and the
Commonwealth Games) to represent Northern Ireland, though locally it has the allegiance mainly of the Unionist community. The
St Patrick's Saltire is also sometimes used by the UK government in London to represent Northern Ireland when a discrete Northern Ireland flag is required. == Crown Dependencies ==