Interviewed this morning by BBC Wales, Welshman and Flag Institute Chief Executive Charles Ashburner suggested that moves to change the flag of the United Kingdom to include Wales are ‘unlikely to be successful for the foreseeable future’.
Such a change might have been hard to resist had Scotland voted for independence.
However, the national mood is now not conducive to a revamp of the UK’s global symbol.
Admiral Lord West, Co-Chair of the UK Parliamentary Flags and Heraldry Committee shares the same view.
As ‘we are remaining one nation we should let sleeping dogs lie and keep the Union Flag as it is,‘ he states.
A straw poll of the Flag Institute Council last night also upheld his opinion.
On behalf of BBC Wales, ICM Research conducted telephone interviews on 19–22 September 2014 with a random sample of 1006 adults (aged 18+) across Wales.
During the Scottish referendum campaign there was discussion over what should happen to the Union Jack if Scotland decided to leave the United Kingdom. The flag has the Scottish Saltire element of the blue background and white cross but it has no Welsh representation. Do you think:
-
- A dragon (or green) should be included somewhere on the Union flag as a symbol of Wales: 45%
- The flag should not be changed at all: 36%
- Don’t care – it’s not my flag: 16%
- Other: 2%
- Don’t know: 1%
Reviewing the poll, Charles Ashburner suggested that Wales would need to show a much clearer desire for change before wider discussions could take place.
He did conclude, however, that a more likely change might involve the Royal Standard.
This already consists of four equal sections, with two currently representing England.
‘The UK has four nations within it,’ he said.
‘It is not inconceivable that Her Majesty could now choose to include Wales in the Royal Standard.‘
I agree with Mr Ashburner that a new Royal Standard might not be a bad idea. As well as replacing the redundant English field with a Welsh one, perhaps it could replace the Irish harp with a symbol specific to Northern Ireland – perhaps a blue flax flower.
I think it is absolutely disgraceful that Wales is not represented on the Union Flag and please don’t mention tradition.
Tradition dictated that only the monarch’s eldest male heir could inherit the throne, that has now changed.
Tradition dictated that royals couldn’t marry Catholics, that has changed.
Is Britain a modern, inclusive country or one steeped in long forgotten traditions perpetuated by the elite?
Whenever and wherever the Union Flag is flow, the country and people of Wales are excluded.
If this is how we treat our own people!
With regards to your introduction which states:-
The Union Fag signifies the unity of the nations that make up the United Kingdom and dependencies, and demonstrates the bond of citizenship which we all share. Whatever our differences may be, whatever our faith, culture, political views, ethnicity, first language or traditional customs, we can all stand beneath this flag united together in common purpose.
How can we stand united when one country and it’s three million inhabitants are excluded.
I agree Wales sould be included in the union Jack by including the St David’s cross I think one main reason for this is when a Welsh athalete wins a medal for G B fliging the union Jack is not truly beeing repesented unlike the English Scots & Northern Irish & the same could also apply for a Welsh soldiers who has given there lives for the U K flag is on the coffin does no have any real meaning to the Welsh people
I agree Wales sould be included in the union Jack by including the St David’s cross I think one main reason for this is when a Welsh athalete wins a medal for G B fliging the union Jack is not truly beeing repesented unlike the English Scots & Northern Irish & the same could also apply for a Welsh soldiers who has given there lives for the U K flag is on the coffin does no have any real meaning to the Welsh people