Слайд 2The flag of the United Kingdom is officially called the Union flag
because it embodies the emblems of three countries united under one monarch. The union flag is commonly known as the Union Jack although the extract origin of the name is unclear.
Слайд 3One explanation is that it gets its name from the “jack staff”
of naval vessels(a small flagpole at the front of Royal Navy vessels) from which the original Union flag was flown.
Слайд 4The emblems that appear on the Union flag are the crosses of
the three patron saints: Wales is not represented on the Union flag because by the time the first version of the flag appeared,Wales was already the part of England.
Слайд 5The Welsh flag , a red dragon a field of white and
green , dates from the fifteenth century.
Слайд 6The Union flag underwent a gradual development. The first one was created
in 1606 when England and Scotland were united under one king James 1 by combining the flags of St. George and St. Andrew.
Слайд 7In the seventeenth century, the flag underwent several changes. After the execution
of Charles 1 in 1649, Oliver Cromwell, the lord protector introduced a special Commonwealth flag consisting of St. George cross and the gold harp of Ireland. When Charles 2 was restored to the throne in 1660,he reintroduced the Union flag of James 1.