The flags of the Home Nations

The term ‘Home Nations’ refers to the constituent countries of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as the Union flag that represents all four nations, we also stock flags for each nation individually.

You can view all our Home Nations flags here.

Union Flag

The Union Flag contains elements that represent the links between England, Scotland and Wales. The central red cross symbolises St George, the patron of England. The white diagonal cross represents St Andrew, the patron of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the symbol of the Irish patron St Patrick.

Flags of England

Flag of St George

The flag of St George harks back to the middle ages as a tribute to St George, who became patron saint of England in 1348. The flag depicts a red cross on a white background, and was included as a component of the Union flag from 1606 onwards.

Royal Arms of England

The Royal Arms of England features three gold lions with azure claws displayed vertically on a red background. It was first used during the reign of Richard the Lionheart – King Richard I.

Flags of Scotland

Flag of St Andrew

The flag of St Andrew is also known as The Saltire after it’s diagonal cross. It’s first recorded use was in the early 1540s, and features an azure blue background with a white diagonal cross.

Scottish Standard flag

This flag is also known as the Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland, the Royal Banner of Scotland or the Lion Rampant of Scotland. Nowadays, the flag has restricted use: by the Monarch‘s representatives and at royal residences. The design features a red lion standing on its hind legs, on a golden background. The lion is surrounded by a double red rectangular border.

Flags of Wales

Welsh Cymru flag

The more commonly known Welsh flag features the red dragon that has been used as an emblem of Wales since the reign of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, from 655AD to 682AD. The white and green of the background are Tudor colours. The Cymru flag was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959.

Flag of St David

When most people think about the Welsh flag, they think of the Cymru flag. But there is in fact an alternative option – the flag of Saint David. The flag features a yellow cross on a black background, colours that have long-since been associated with Saint David.

Flags of Northern Ireland

Flag of St Patrick

The Saint Patrick’s Saltire unofficially represents Northern Ireland. Its association with Saint Patrick dates back to the 1780s, and the saltire was incorporated in the Union flag following the joining of the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Ulster Banner flag

The Ulster Banner is also known as the Red Hand flag or the Ulster flag. Since 1972 it has had no official status (the only official flag for Northern Ireland is the Union flag). However loyalists and unionists commonly fly it. There is a Red Hand of Ulster in the centre of a red cross. The crown represents the British monarchy. The six pointed star that the red hand sits in represents the six counties of Northern Ireland.