12/04/2026
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(Not in Prudhoe, but....) On this day in 1606, a new flag was introduced that would go on to become one of the most recognisable symbols in the world - the Union Flag.
Created during the reign of King James I, it represented the union of the crowns of England and Scotland under one monarch. The design brought together the red cross of St George and the white diagonal cross of St Andrew on a blue background, visually uniting the two nations for the first time.
Despite this, England and Scotland remained politically separate, each keeping its own parliament. The flag symbolised unity of the crown rather than a fully united state.
Wales was not included in the design. By this time, it had already been absorbed into the Kingdom of England and was not considered a separate kingdom, so it had no distinct representation on the flag.
The design we recognise today came much later, in 1801, when Ireland joined the union and St Patrickβs red diagonal cross was added.
Over 400 years on, the Union Flag remains a powerful symbol of the United Kingdomβits history, its unions, and its evolution over time.
This is why the Union Flag is correctly flown with the broader white diagonal of St Andrew uppermost at the hoist, reflecting Scotlandβs place in the Union before Ireland. Itβs a detail often missed, and many people unknowingly fly the flag upside down, traditionally a signal of distress, used by ships in trouble.
