How to fly the Union Flag correctly How can you tell if it is upside down?
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.  Correct Way Wrong way 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!