<P> The present design of the Union Flag dates from a Royal proclamation following the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801 . The flag combines aspects of three older national flags: the red cross of St George of the Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland (which two were united in the first Union Flag), and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland . </P> <P> Notably, the home country of Wales is not represented separately in the Union Flag, being only indirectly represented through the cross of St George, which represents the former Kingdom of England (which included Wales). </P> <P> The terms Union Jack and Union Flag are both historically correct for describing the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom . Whether the term Union Jack applies only when used as a jack flag on a ship is a modern matter of debate . </P> <P> According to the Parliament of the United Kingdom: "Until the early 17th century England and Scotland were two entirely independent kingdoms . This changed dramatically in 1603 on the death of Elizabeth I of England . Because the Queen died unmarried and childless, the English crown passed to the next available heir, her cousin James VI, King of Scotland . England and Scotland now shared the same monarch under what was known as a union of the crowns . </P>

When is the british flag called a union jack
find me the text answering this question