En Route to England Quiz | World

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Let's start in a country famous for sheep and its stint as Middle Earth. Which country's flag features the Union Flag in its top left-hand corner and four red stars with white borders in a cross formation on the right?

Answer: New Zealand

The very first flag of New Zealand did not feature the Union Flag as it was voted for and designed by the Maori tribes' chiefs. The Union Flag was added following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (considered to be the founding document of the modern New Zealand) by the British and the Maori chiefs in 1840.

2. Next, we'll move a little to the West, to a country that was once filled with English criminals. Which country's flag features the Union Flag in the top left-hand corner and five white stars on the right, as well as a large white star at the bottom left?

Answer: Australia

Australia was once six British colonies, so retains its heritage through use of the Union Flag. Given that Australia remains a Commonwealth member, it is not surprising that loyalty to Britain's reigning monarch (also Australia's Head of State) can also be inferred.

Each star has seven points. This represents the original six British colonies as well as the Territory of Papua. The five stars on the right of the flag are set out to represent the Southern Cross constellation that is only visible in the Southern Hemisphere.

3. Next, we'll head North East, to the middle of the Pacific ocean. Here we will find an island nation whose light blue flag features the Union Jack at the top left-hand corner and a coat-of-arms which contains, amongst other things, a coconut palm, a lion holding a cocoa pod and a bunch of bananas on the right. Which country is this?

Answer: Fiji

The blue background of the Fijian flag represents the Pacific Ocean in which it is situated and from which much of its economy derives. Since Fiji's independence from the UK in 1987, the Union Flag has been retained, but there have been calls to remove it amongst politicians.

The coat of arms of Fiji represents many of the agricultural activities undertaken by islanders. As well as a British lion holding a cocoa pod, a bunch of bananas and a coconut palm, a sugar cane and a dove of peace are also included in the design.

4. Just a little further north in the Pacific Ocean, we find a multiple-island nation threatened by rising sea levels whose flag contains the Union Flag at the top left-hand corner, as well as nine yellow stars on a light blue background to the right. Which nation's flag is this?

Answer: Tuvalu

Originally known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu was part of the British Empire until it gained independence in 1974. It remains a member of the Commonwealth and retains the Union Flag as a mark of loyalty.

The blue background represents the Pacific Ocean in which the country lies, and the nine yellow stars represent its constituent islands. The stars are laid out in a design which replicates the positioning of the islands relative to each other.

5. Whilst we're still in the Pacific Ocean, let's head north-east for a big surprise! It's the 50th state of the USA and its flag features the Union Flag in the top left-hand corner, with eight red, white and blue stripes across the rest of the flag. Where are we?

Answer: Hawaii

The islands were discovered by Captain James Cook of England in 1778, and King Kamehameha first flew a Union Flag in 1793 when it was gifted to him by an officer of King George III of England. Since, then the design has remained a part of the islands' flag, despite many instances of alleged alliances and pro-British leanings both before and after Hawaii's accession as a state.

The eight stripes represent the eight islands that make up Hawaii.

6. Let's head South-East to South America, where we will find a small archipelago of islands off the coast of Argentina. The flag that is flying features the Union Flag in the top left-hand corner and a coat-of-arms on the right bearing the motton "Desire the Right" under pictures of a bullock and a ship. Where are we?

Answer: Falkland Islands

The Falkland islands have been claimed and reclaimed many times. Though they are currently a British Overseas Territory, Argentina continues to claim ownership.

The Union Flag has featured on the Falkland flag for over 100 years, though the coat of arms featuring a bullock and a ship has only been used since the 1940s. It is thought that the motto "Desire the Right" derives from the name of the ship (the "Desire") that discovered the islands in 1592.

7. Time to head North to the Carribbean Sea and a British Overseas Territory just south of Cuba. This British Overseas Territory has a flag containing both the Union Flag and a coat-of-arms topped by a turtle with a pineapple on its back, all on a dark blue background. Where are we?

Answer: Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands has only used its own flag since 1999. Prior to this, it used the British Flag.

Its coat-of-arms contains a British lion as well as 3 stars, represnting the three main islands that make up the Territory. On top of the coat-of-arms sits a turtle on a rope, symbolising the seafaring traditions of the Cayman Islands, and a pineapple symbolising its long links with Jamaica. The motto "He hath founded it upon the seas" is a quote from a Biblical psalm.

8. Onward we go, heading a little to the East, until we come to another small island British Overseas Territory that is often called the "Emerald Isle of the Carribbean". The island's flag features the Union Flag in the top left as well a a coat-of-arms that shows a lady playing a golden harp to the right. Where are we?

Answer: Montserrat

Not only does Montserrat have Irish heritage, but it is said to have a coastline very much like that of Ireland. Its flag shows a coat-of-arms that features Erin, the female personification of Ireland, playing a harp, another symbol of the Emerald Isle. Erin is seen to be holding a cross, reflecting the Territory's strong Christian heritage.

9. It's time to head further North into the North Atlantic Ocean. Here, we'll find an island more famous for tales of its infamous "Triangle" than its flag, but the flag is interesting nonetheless as it features the Union Flag on a red background as well as coat of arms that shows a lion holding a picture of a shipwreck. Where are we?

Answer: Bermuda

The Bermudan flag is unusual. As a British overseas territory, it should really only use a red background for a sea ensign. However, red is used on land in Bermuda, as it also was in Canada prior to 1965.

The coat of arms' motto, "Quo Fata Farunt", means "Whither the Fates Carry". It is possible that the shipwreck was included due to the legends of the Bermuda Triangle and those vessels that have been lost there, but this is unconfirmed.

10. It's time to head back to the UK, so let's head North-West to the largest Commonwealth country. Let's head to Toronto's international airport to catch a flight back to London. Toronto's province still flies a flag that features the Union Flag on a red background and a shield-of-arms made up of the English flag and three maple leaves. Which province of Canada will we fly home from?

Answer: Ontario

Ontario continues to use the red background despite its usual use at sea. Although Canada itself stopped using the Union Flag in the 1960s, Ontario has a large rural population, many of whom were unhappy with the change. As such, the Ontario flag was designed for use in the province.

The maple leaves on the shield-of-arms of Ontario represent Canada (of course), whilst the English flag is really the Cross of St George, the namesake of King George III, to whom the founders of the province were loyal.

Source: Author suzidunc

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

En Route to England Trivia Quiz

The British Empire left a vexillological legacy! Many world flags still contain the UK's Union Flag somewhere in their canton. Lets try and identify some of them as we journey across the globe from the Pacific ocean back to England!

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