The British national flag is called the Union Jack. The red, white, and blue design of the Union Jack combines symbols representing England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The Union Jack is one of the most recognizable flags — partly because of its design, but also because of Britain's colonial history. Many British territories and former colonies still include a smaller version of it on their own flags today. The current Union Jack was designed in 1801. Its three distinct crosses represent the union of three historic kingdoms: England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland. The term Jack is believed to be from a nautical meaning, "small flag at the bow of a ship."