Editing Union Jack (section)

===Specification===
The Union Jack is normally twice as long as it is tall, a ratio of 1:2. In the United Kingdom, land flags are normally a ratio of 3:5; the Union Jack can also be made in this shape, but is 1:2 for most purposes. In 2008, MP [[Andrew Rosindell]] proposed a [[Ten Minute Rule]] bill to standardise the design of the flag at 3:5, but the bill did not proceed past the first reading.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/unionflag.html |access-date=9 April 2014 |title=Union Flag Bill 2007–08 |publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref>

The three-component crosses that make up the Union Jack are sized as follows:<ref name="Flag Institute">{{cite web |title=Union Flag Specification |url=https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/uk-flags/union-flag-specification/ |website=The Flag Institute |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>
* The red [[St George's Cross]] width is {{frac|1|5}} of the flag's height with a {{frac|1|15}} flag height [[fimbriation]]
* The white diagonal [[Flag of Scotland|St Andrew's Cross]] width is {{frac|1|5}} of the flag's height, visible on either side of the St Patrick's Cross in diagonals of  {{frac|1|10}} and {{frac|1|30}} of the flag's height, respectively.
* The red diagonal [[Saint Patrick's Saltire|St Patrick's Cross]] width is {{frac|1|15}} of the flag's height. It is offset by {{frac|1|30}} of the flag's height in an anti-clockwise direction{{clarify|date=May 2020}}. According to the official blazon of 1801, the white diagonal [[Flag of Scotland|St Andrew's Cross]] is in fact [[counterchanged]] with the red diagonal of [[Saint Patrick's Saltire|St Patrick's Cross]]. In this interpretation, the width of both saltires is  {{frac|1|15}} of the flag's height, with fimbriations of  {{frac|1|30}} of the flag's height on either side of the red saltire.

The crosses and fimbriations retain their thickness relative to the flag's ''height'' whether they are shown with a ratio of 3:5 or 1:2. ''Height'' here is the distance from top to bottom which in vexillology is termed [[Glossary of vexillology#width or breadth|width or breadth]].

====Ratios====
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| total_width       = 230
| image1            = Flag of the United Kingdom (3-5).svg
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = Union Flag with an aspect ratio of 3:5
| image2            = Flag of the United Kingdom (construction sheet).svg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = Aspect diagram of a 3:5 Union Flag
| image3            = Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg
| image4            = Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2) (construction sheet).svg
| caption4          = Aspect diagram of a 1:2 Union Flag
| caption3          = Union Flag with an aspect ratio of 1:2
}}
The Admiralty in 1864 settled all official flags at proportions of 1:2, but the relative widths of the crosses remained unspecified, with the above conventions becoming standardised in the 20th century.<ref>by the 1970s,<!--this article is unaware  *when* this became standard, could be any time between 1801 and 1973.--> "its current official dimension of l/30th the width of the flag" ''The Flag Bulletin'', Volumes 12–14, Flag Research Center (1973), p. 85.</ref> In the 19th century, the Union flag was defined by the same blazon but could vary in its geometrical proportions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.justcollecting.com/miscellania/the-worlds-most-expensive-union-jack-sells-for-384k |title=The World's Most Expensive Union Jack Sells For £384K |access-date=10 August 2016 |archive-date=11 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811185440/https://www.justcollecting.com/miscellania/the-worlds-most-expensive-union-jack-sells-for-384k }}</ref>

Although the most common ratio is 1:2, other ratios exist. The Royal Navy's flag code book, BR20 ''Flags of All Nations'', states that both 1:2 and 3:5 versions are official.<ref name="35variant">{{FOTW|id=gb_var|anchor=35|title=United Kingdom: 3:5 variant|access-date=22 July 2008}}</ref> In the 3:5 version, the innermost points of the lower left and upper right diagonals of the St Patrick's cross are cut off or truncated. The [[Garter King of Arms]] also suggests a ratio of 3:5 as the suitable proportion for a Union Flag flown on land.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/resources/union-flag-approved-designs|title=Union Flag: approved designs|website=www.college-of-arms.gov.uk|publisher=College of Arms|year=2023|access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref>

The King's Harbour Master's flag, similar to the Pilot Jack, is a 1:2 flag that contains a white-bordered Union Flag that is longer than 1:2. The jacks of ships flying variants of the [[Blue Ensign]] are square and have a square Union Flag in the canton.<ref name="35variant" /> The [[Regulation Colours#British Army|King's Colours of Army regiments]] are {{convert|36|x|43|in}}; on them, the bars of the cross and saltire are of equal width, as are their respective narrow fimbriations.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://flagspot.net/flags/gb-regt.html |title=United Kingdom: Regimental Colours |last1=Grieve |first1=Martin |first2=Christopher |last2=Southworth |first3=David |last3=Prothero |website=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]] |access-date=9 July 2009}}</ref>