National Emblems of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland The United Kingdom (abbreviated from «The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland») is the political name of the country which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In everyday speech «Britain» is used to mean the United Kingdom.

The Flag of the United Kingdom The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background. Wales is not represented in the Union Flag by Wales's patron saint, Saint David, as at the time the flag was designed Wales was part of the Kingdom of England. The Flag of the United Kingdom, commonly known as the Union Jack or Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).

Flag of England Flag of Scotland Flag of N. Ireland

National Emblem of England A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses.

National Emblem of Scotland As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle apparently first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood.

National Emblem of Northern Ireland The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

National Emblem of Wales Many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom The Royal coat of arms is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest is a statant guardant lion wearing the St Edward's Crown, himself on another representation of that crown. The dexter supporter is a likewise crowned English lion; the sinister, a Scottish unicorn. In the greenery below, a thistle, Tudor Rose and shamrock are present, representing Scotland, England and Ireland respectively. The coat features both the motto of English monarchs, God and my right, and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Shame upon him who thinks evil of it, on a representation of the Garter behind the shield.

The national anthem of the United Kingdom The national anthem of the United Kingdom is "God Save the King", with "King" replaced with "Queen" in the lyrics whenever the monarch is a woman. God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save The Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save The Queen. Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign; May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice, God bless our native land, May heaven's protective hand Still guard our shore; May peace her power extend, Foe be transformed to friend, And Britain's power depend On war no more. May just and righteous laws Uphold the public cause, And bless our isle. Home of the brave and free, Fair land and liberty, We pray that still on thee Kind heaven may smile. And not this land alone- But be thy mercies known From shore to shore. Lord, make the nations see That men should brothers be, And from one family The wide world o'er.

National personification of the United Kingdom Britannia is a national personification of the United Kingdom, originating from Roman Britain. Britannia is symbolised as a young woman with brown or golden hair, wearing a Corinthian helmet and white robes. She holds Poseidon's three-pronged trident and a shield, bearing the Union Flag. Sometimes she is depicted as riding on the back of a lion. Up until 2008, the lion symbol was depicted behind Britannia on the British fifty pence coin and on the back of the British ten pence coin. It is also used as a symbol on the non-ceremonial flag of the British Army.

National animals The bulldog is sometimes used as a symbol of the United Kingdom and has been associated with Winston Churchill's defiance of Nazi Germany.