The cross of St Patrick is counterchanged (offset) to give precedence to the cross of St Andrew whose broader white stripe is at the top in the canton (the top left corner nearest the hoist)
Thanks everyone; Mike, I might make sense if you play with it. Scotman, Yes
Calibax: thanks for a proper explanatiojn but my brain is too inadequate to cope with it.
Your Majesty, had it not been for your batty husband dragging Ireland into the UK, in between talking to the trees, it wouldn't have been there in the first place.
The Cross of St Patrick, of course. I append an encomium to your illustrious ancestors and descendants:
George the First was always reckoned
Vile, but viler George the Second.
And what mortal ever heard
Any good of George the Third,
But when from earth the Fourth descended
God be praised the Georges ended
Mind you, I have often wondered who would be on the throne if they had had DNA.
My ol` man was a brilliant book binder, you know and don`t pick on him over ~Ireland - that was Elizabeth`s I`s fault, shurely?
Ireland was incorporated into the UK in 1800 at the height of the Napoleonic wars to ensure British security. I believe your old man was on watch at that time.
I think we just might be straying from the question, but who cares? My computer is taking ages to do anything tonight, so I think ~I will call it a day, so thanks everyone for helping keep me sane. Sleep well, and don`t encomium too much..