How
to fly the Union Flag correctly
How can you tell if it is upside down? |
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Please don't fly the Union flag the wrong way up!
The broader (wider) diagonal white stripe should be at the top
on the side of the flag nearest the flagpole.
The UK flag is NOT entirely symmetrical! You can rotate the flag and it still will be the right way up but you can't invert it (not refective symmetry).
Look at the white diagonals and you will see why.
On
the side next to the flagpole, (the hoist side), the thick
white band is above the red band on both diagonals, the white
band being part of the cross of St Andrew, the Scottish flag
and the red band being part of the cross of St Patrick, the Irish
flag.
The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed showing how the saltires (diagonal crosses) are counterchanged.
The cross of St Andrew is above that of St
Patrick at the hoist because the cross was added to the flag before St
Patrick's cross, therefore the cross of St Andrew is entitled to the
higher position
On
the side that flutters free, the fly side, this is
reversed, with the Irish flag being above the Scottish flag.
This flag is upside down because the narrow white bands are on top.
To
deliberately fly the flag upside down is a signal indicating
a situation of 'DISTRESS'. It is also "lese Majeste" (which means: insulting the Crown), and is theoretically still
a crime in the UK and its commonwealth!
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Saturday 2 June 2012
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