General Chat

Personally I really dislike the Union Jack and would much rather stick with the cross of St. George only. I also love the National Anthem and feel extremely patriotic when I hear it. I am English, I am not Irish, Welsh or Scottish and will never be a European. I hate it when a questionnaire or other does not give the option of stating your nationality except for saying you are from the UK. I do not wish to cause any offence to any neighbours! Naomi

Just to clarify, the first union flag was created after the union of England & Scotland in 1707 to form "the United Kingdom of Great Britain". (St George's and St Andrew's flags). This was further added to in 1800, when the UK of GB became the UK of GB & Northern Ireland (addition of St Patrick's flag). A Welsh flag or other device has never been included (grrr...) because, presumably, the English in 1707 took the view that Wales had been merely a principality since the time of Edward I in the late 1200s! Philip

Philip, Maybe it was thought that Wales would themselves become self-sufficient and independent. They do have their own language which they still use. Only a thought!

Being Welsh, the current Union Flag doesn't upset me, but how about having a sheep stuck on the front of it? Any objections? Just joking.

A photo of Charles and Camilla on the flag. What a thought! He is after all Prince of Wales!

I'm sure that in one of Gilbert & Sullivan opperettas there is a song called 'There will always be an England' which we could use when we are doing something totally English as opposed to something British e.g. England v Wales at Rugby. Its quite a stirring song as I remember it from my dim and distant past!! Dee

Oh yes, memories, memories. The Gilbert & Sullivan operettas are really English. Nobody has ever heard of them abroad. They only know Gilbert O'Sullivan (he lives near here), but he has died a natural death, so to speak. I love that song too: "There'll always be an England". I love living in the Netherlands, but I still have a part of me that is English (also British). Sylvia

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who remember "There'll always be an England". I had put it at No.2 for the choice of an English Anthem. I do think all this about being European has got nothing at all to do with the original question asked. The question was New Flag/National Anthem for UK. NOT should we consider ourselves part of Europe. Again I will give my answer to the question NO for either for the United Kingdom. Both the Union Flag and the National Anthem show the unification of the countries. However, if the question had been should England have a different flag and anthem for when they are being identified as a country in their own right and not combined with Scotland and Northern Ireland (and Wales of course) then the answer would be YES. St. Georges Flag and see above for choices of Anthem. Janet

Sorry, let me correct myself. In 1800 the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland was formed (not just NI). The change to UK of GB & NI took place after the (the) Irish Free State was created in 1922. Don't know about the Welsh becoming self-sufficient, Sylvia. I somehow don't think that's exactly what Edward I had in mind, when he killed the last genuine Welsh ruler (or at least of Gwynedd) in a skirmish, and had his brother hanged, drawn and quartered for treason. Both their heads were subsequently stuck on spikes over the Tower of London! Philip