Designed 400 years ago, the Union Jack, now the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has become a style icon. Since the 1960s, the distinctive red, white and blue flag has been a favorite of celebrities ranging from fashion designers to rock stars. It is also popular among the not-so-famous, who use it to add a splash of color and extravagance to their clothes.

In the 1960s, the time of Beatlemania, when Carnaby Street was considered a fashion center of swinging London, the Union Jack became identified with pop culture. Pete Townshend from The Who sported a jacket decorated with the flag on the cover of the band's debut album. Freddie Mercury, Oasis and the Spice Girls all took a liking to the red, white and blue banner. Recently footballer David Beckham placed the flag on his Mini Cooper. And Reebok has used it for years as part of its brand identity.

The commercial use of the Union Jack is not just a modern phenomenon. In the 1840s it was possible to buy fashionable handkerchiefs decorated with red and white crosses on a blue background, and at the famous Harrods store in London, goods were packed in paper bearing the same pattern. Today national air carrier British Airways carries a contemporary version of the flag on its planes. Smaller companies are also keen on the national symbol.

The Union Jack can be seen fluttering over royal residences in Britain such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham House. However, while the flag remains popular in fashion both in the land of its origin and in other countries, it is displayed less often on important public buildings and during official ceremonies in Britain than in the past.