The classical "Brittish flag" or the flag of the United Kingdom as we know it today started with a humble red cross on a white field. In 1707 the red cross or the St. Georges cross was joined with the white saltire (white diagonals) and blue field of St. Andrew. This marked the political union of England and Scotland.

The next and most recent change occurred in 1801. The red saltire (red diagonels) of St. Patrick was added to mark the political union of great Britain and Ireland.