How England STOLE the St George’s flag – and now Genoa wants it back with millions in ‘fines’

THE city of Genoa is demanding England pay back centuries of unpaid fees for nabbing its famous flag –  the cross of St George – to scare away pirates.

Cheeky civic leaders in the Italian city are even thinking of writing to the Queen to ensure we cough up the outstanding 250-year-old debt, believed to run into the millions.

Genoa first adopted the symbol, and St George as its patron saint, in 1190 during the Crusades, when the city was a fearsome maritime republic.

The red and white cross was then taken up by the English towards the end of the 13th century, to be flown by its navy to deter its enemies from attacking and to scare off pirates.

The English agreed to pay a “substantial” annual fee to the ruler of Genoa for the right to fly the flag and use their ports to trade.

But payment stopped when the republic collapsed years later.

England later adopted the cross as its national flag and it has become synonymous with the country ever since.

But the Italians seemingly aren’t happy they stopped getting their cash.

Marco Bucci, mayor of Genoa, said: “We believe the English paid up until 1746, when the Austrians attacked Genoa and the republic faded.

“That means we are owed over 250 years of back payments.”

Mr Bucci said he was thinking of writing to the Queen to call in the debt and had instructed city archivists to work out how much was due.