The Secret History Behind England's Flag

England's flag is one of the oldest national symbols in the world — and its story goes back over a thousand years.

The red cross on white honors Saint George, a symbol adopted by crusading knights centuries ago as their emblem of faith and courage before it ever became a national flag. But England's own story goes back even further than the crusades: the kingdom was first unified on April 23, 927 — by, coincidentally, the very date that would later become Saint George's Day — the date printed on every England design in our catalog.

A simple cross, carrying a thousand years of history in every thread — older than most of the countries that now share the globe with it.

See the England Rose And Lion Tee → · Browse the United Kingdom collection → — or explore the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.

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