The flag of Scotland is the cross of St. Andrew, also known as the Saltire. It is said to be the oldest national flag of any country, dating back to at least the 12th century.

Tradition suggests that St. Andrew (an Apostle of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion) was put to death by the Romans in Greece by being pinned to a cross of this shape The flag of the United Kingdom - known as the Union Jack or Union Flag - is made up from the flags of Scotland, England (the Cross of St. George), and Ireland (the Cross of St. Patrick).

The Royal Flag of Scotland

There is a second flag which is associated with Scotland, the "Rampant Lion", or Royal Flag of Scotland. Although based on an older Scottish Flag than the St. Andrews Cross, it should, strictly speaking, now only be used by the monarch in relation to her capacity as Queen of Scotland. Although Scotland has not had its own monarchy since the Act of Union with England in 1707, Queen Elizabeth II is monarch of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This flag is widely used as a second national flag.

The Rampant Lion flies over the offices of the Secretary of State for Scotland (who is the represenative of the U.K. government in Scotland); that is the Dover House in London and the New St. Andrews House in Edinburgh.

King George V signed a Royal Warrant in 1934 allowing the use of the Rampant Lion flag as "a mark of loyalty" because of the forthcoming Jubilee celebrations. The Lord Lyon (The Lord Lyon of Arms is the judicial officer responsible for upholding the heraldic law in Scotland) officially now takes the view that this permission "related to decorative ebullition", that is, it is permissable to wave the flag at football matches. It is however not allowable to fly the flag without permission, on a flag pole or from a building. The Lord Lyon once threatened the town councillors of Cumbernauld with an Act passed in 1679 which prescribed the death penalty for mis-use of the royal arms.