Why wales is not on the union jack

However, there's a problem. It's debatable but some say the dragon was used to represent Celtic people rather than individuals which would mean it had true national symbolism. Certainly by the time of the Tudors it was used to represent the Royal house. There's also some confusion over the colour, red or gold, the green and white elements are definitely Tudor colours. The Stewart's were not including their own family symbols on the new 'union' flag, there's no way on earth would they include anything of the Tudors.

After all, they were trying to establish themselves as a dynasty in their own right. What about Saint David's cross? Well unfortunately it looks like the history of this flag is for want of a better word, broken. It has strong links with the church in Wales and has appeared as family emblems here and there.

Also, it is currently shown as a gold cross on a black background but earlier forms have been black on gold. It has only gained popularity in the 20th century. If it did exist in some form in King James would not have been aware of it and even so, since Saint David only became the patron saint of Wales in the 's James would not have been able to use it.

Of course, there's nothing stopping the 'powers that be' from redressing the issue. Our problem is the other nations don't see it as an issue, it's not a problem to them. In Wales was missing from a map of Europe printed on an official EC publication, literally left off! One can only wonder "Would this have happened if Wales were represented on the Union Flag? We can only guess. If the Union Flag does not represent the Britons, at least not all of them, how can it be used as a British emblem? Where does this leave Wales?

The Red Dragon is elegant and distinctive. If you took it back in time and raised it on an Elizabethan ship it would almost certainly be recognised so it's quite authentic too.

However, as discussed earlier, if we ever want representation on the Union Flag we will have to move on. The Dragon represents who we were. Lets keep it lest we forget but we need a flag that represents who we are, who we want to become. We need a new national flag, the Cross of Saint David. Click HERE to view our download page now. What are the best apps for learning English? View our Cookie Policy. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

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You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can view our cookie list here. The Union Flag Union Jack is one of the greatest flags of the modern world, unifying the 4 great nations of the United Kingdom. These three elements complete the Union Flag and allow for representation of each of our countries, however Wales seems to have no representation of their flag on the Union Jack at all; there are no elements of green and white horizontal stripes or their famous red dragon , and the reason for this is rather interesting.

A good start would be to take a look at the flag of Wales and why their flag is in no way similar to the other countries of the union. The dragon on the other hand is included on the flag as it was the symbol of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, the most prominent Welsh Kingdom prior to English occupation and annexation; the dragon was flown by Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon who was King of Gwynedd from to AD.

The reason for the lack of inclusion in the Union Jack however is not a matter of any unorthodox vexillology but rather due to the fact that Wales was never fully developed into an actual kingdom. The official name for our country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , due to the fact that the kingdoms on the island of Great Britain are joined in unison, Scotland and England.

Before the conquest, Wales consisted of principalities rather than kingdoms, hence why in the modern day, the heir to the throne of the United Kingdom is always given the title of Prince of Wales. Therefore, while the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are joined, the Principality of Wales is officially a part of the Kingdom of England.