It is sometimes asserted that the termUnion Jack properly refers only to naval usage, but this assertion was dismissed by theFlag Institute in 2013 after historical investigations.[4][5][6][a]
The flags ofBritish Overseas Territories, as well as certain sovereign states and regions (particularly inthe Commonwealth) that were previouslyBritish possessions, incorporate the Union Jack into their own flag designs or have official flags that are derived from the Union Jack. Many ofthese flags areblue orred ensigns with the Union Jack in thecanton anddefaced with the distinguishing arms of the territory. The governors of British Overseas Territories and theAustralian states also have personal standards that incorporate the Union Jack in their design. In Australia, the 'right or privilege' of a person to fly the Union Jack is protected under Australian statute law.[8] The flag continues to have official status inCanada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is also known as theRoyal Union Flag.[9]
The termsUnion Jack andUnion Flag are both used historically for describing the national flag of the United Kingdom.
Initially, the flag was termed the 'British flag' or 'flag of Britain', and the term 'Union' first appeared in 1625.[1] The etymology ofjack in the context of flagstaffs reaches back to Middle German. The suffix-kin was used in Middle Dutch and Middle German as adiminutive.[10] Examples occur in bothChaucer andLangland though the form is unknown in Old English.[10]John is a common male forename (going back to the Bible), appearing in Dutch asJan. Both languages use it as a generic form for a man in general.[11] The two were combined in the Middle DutchJanke, whence Middle FrenchJakke and Middle EnglishJack.[12]Jack came to be used to identify all manner of particularly small objects or small versions of larger ones. TheOxford English Dictionary has definition III.21 "Something insignificant, or smaller than the normal size" and gives examples from 1530 to 2014 of this usage.[12] Further examples in the compounds section at 2b illustrate this.[12] The original maritime flag use ofjack was "A ship's flag of a smaller size than the ensign, used at sea as a signal, or as an identifying device".[13] The jack was flown in the bows or from the head of the spritsail mast to indicate the vessel's nationality: "You are alsoe for this present service to keepe in yor Jack at yor Boultspritt end and yor Pendant and yor Ordinance"[14] The Union Flag when instantiated as a small jack became known as the "Union Jack" and this later term transferred to more general usage of the Union Flag.[15]
A portrait of a ship, with the Union Jack placed on a jackstaff at the ship's bow, 1637
Also later a short flagpole was placed in thebows of a ship to fly the jack, this became known as thejackstaff.[16]
According to theFlag Institute, a membership-runvexillological charity,[17] "the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories is the Union Flag, which may also be called the Union Jack."[18] The institute has also stated:
it is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908, a government minister stated, in response to a parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".[19][20]
Notwithstanding Their Lordships' circular of 1902, by 1913 the Admiralty described the "Union Flag" and added in a footnote that "A Jack is a Flag to be flown only on the 'Jack' Staff".[21]
However, the authoritativeA Complete Guide to Heraldry published in 1909 byArthur Charles Fox-Davies uses the term "Union Jack".[22]
The term "Union Flag" is used inKing Charles I's 1634 proclamation:
... none of Our Subjects, of any of Our Nations and Kingdoms shall from henceforth presume to carry the Union Flag in the Main top, or other part of any of their Ships (that is) St Georges cross and St Andrew's Cross joined together upon pain of Our high displeasure, but that the same Union Flag be still reserved as an ornament proper for Our own Ships and Ships in our immediate Service and Pay, and none other.[23]
— Proclamation appointing the Flag, as well for Our Navy Royal as for the Ships of Our Subjects of South and North Britain – 5 May 1634
and inKing George III's proclamation of 1 January 1801 concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland:
And that the Union Flag shall be Azure, the Crosses Saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick Quarterly per Saltire, counterchanged Argent and Gules; the latter fimbriated of the Second, surmounted by the Cross of St. George of the Third, fimbriated as the Saltire : ...[24]
— A Proclamation Declaring His Majesty's Pleasure concerning the Royal Style and Titles appertaining to the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and its Dependencies, and also the Ensigns, Armorial Flags, and Banners thereof
When the first flag representing Britain was introduced on theproclamation ofKing James I in 1606,[25] it became known simply as the "British flag" or the "flag of Britain". The royal proclamation gave no distinctive name to the new flag. At thefuneral of King James in 1625 the flag was called the "Banner of the Union of the two Crosses of England and Scotland".[26] The wordjack was in use before 1600 to describe themaritime bow flag.[19] By 1627 a small Union Jack was commonly flown in this position. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called simply the "Jack", or "Jack flag", or the "King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the "Union Jack", and this was officially acknowledged.[27][6]
A proclamation issued by KingGeorge III at the time of theUnion of 1801 concerned flags at sea and repeatedly referred to "Ensigns, Flags, Jacks, and Pendants" and forbade merchant vessels from wearing "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack" nor any pendants or colours used by the King's ships.[28] Reinforcing the distinction the King's proclamation of the same day concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom (not colours at sea) called the new flag "the Union Flag".[29]
The size and power of theRoyal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom andcolonies, it is possible that the termjack occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the jackstaff (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). The name may alternatively come from the 'jack-et' of the English or Scottishsoldiers, or from the name of James I who originated the first union in 1603. Even if the termUnion Jack does derive from the jack flag, after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by use and has appeared in official use, confirmed as the national flag by Parliament and remains the popular term.[30]
Winston Churchill,British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945, referred to the flag of the United Kingdom as the Union Jack. In March 1899, Churchill wrote tohis mother fromIndia about her plans to produce a new trans-Atlantic magazine, to be calledThe Anglo-Saxon Review. The drawing at the end of this letter was deliberately facetious, teasing her for going down-market, and in the accompanying letter he wrote, "Your title 'The Anglo Saxon' with its motto 'Blood is thicker than water' only needs the Union Jack & theStar Spangled Banner crossed on the cover to be suited to one ofHarmsworth's cheap Imperialist productions."[31]
More recently, Reed'sNautical Almanac (1990 edition) unambiguously stated: "The Union Flag, frequently but incorrectly referred to as the Union Jack, ..." and later: "8. The Jack – A small flag worn on a jackstaff on the stem of Naval Vessels. The Royal Navy wears the Union Flag ... This is the only occasion when it correct to describe the flag as the Union Jack".[32] However, this assertion does not appear in any Reed'sNautical Almanac since 1993. In the 2016 Reed'sNautical Almanac, the only entry where this might appear, section 5.21, covering Flag Etiquette, does not include this statement. Within theAlmanac, neither the Union Flag nor the Union Jack are included pictorially or mentioned by name.
For comparison with another anglophone country with a large navy,jack of the United States specifically refers to the flag flown from the jackstaff of a warship, auxiliary or other U.S. governmental entity.[33]
TheButcher's Apron is apejorative term for the flag, common amongstIrish republicans, citing the blood-streaked appearance of the flag and referring to atrocities committed in Ireland and other countries under British colonial rule.[34][35] In 2006,Sandra White, aMember of the Scottish Parliament, caused a furore when the term was used in a press release under her name. It was later blamed on the actions of a researcher, who resigned yet claimed that the comment had been approved by White.[36] The Irish folk bandthe Wolfe Tones has a song entitled "The Butcher's Apron" which makes reference to the term.[37]
In theChinese language, the flag has the nicknameRice-Character Flag (米字旗;MandarinPinyin:mǐzìqí,CantoneseJyutping:mai5zi6kei4) because the pattern looks similar to the Chinese character for "rice" (米).[38]
the Union flag shall be azure, the crosses-saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick quartered per saltire counter changed argent and gules; the latter fimbriated of the second [viz., argent]; surmounted by the cross of St. George of the third [viz., gules], fimbriated as the saltire [viz., argent].[39]
The Union Jack is normally twice as long as it is tall, a ratio of 1:2. In the United Kingdom, land flags are normally a ratio of 3:5; the Union Jack can also be made in this shape, but is 1:2 for most purposes. In 2008, MPAndrew Rosindell proposed aTen Minute Rule bill to standardise the design of the flag at 3:5, but the bill did not proceed past the first reading.[40]
The three-component crosses that make up the Union Jack are sized as follows:[41]
The white diagonalSt Andrew's Cross width is1⁄5 of the flag's height, visible on either side of the St Patrick's Cross in diagonals of1⁄10 and1⁄30 of the flag's height, respectively.
The red diagonalSt Patrick's Cross width is1⁄15 of the flag's height. It is offset by1⁄30 of the flag's height in an anti-clockwise direction[clarification needed]. According to the official blazon of 1801, the white diagonalSt Andrew's Cross is in factcounterchanged with the red diagonal ofSt Patrick's Cross. In this interpretation, the width of both saltires is1⁄15 of the flag's height, with fimbriations of1⁄30 of the flag's height on either side of the red saltire.
The crosses and fimbriations retain their thickness relative to the flag'sheight whether they are shown with a ratio of 3:5 or 1:2.Height here is the distance from top to bottom which in vexillology is termedwidth or breadth.
The Admiralty in 1864 settled all official flags at proportions of 1:2, but the relative widths of the crosses remained unspecified, with the above conventions becoming standardised in the 20th century.[42] In the 19th century, the Union flag was defined by the same blazon but could vary in its geometrical proportions.[43]
Although the most common ratio is 1:2, other ratios exist. The Royal Navy's flag code book, BR20Flags of All Nations, states that both 1:2 and 3:5 versions are official.[44] In the 3:5 version, the innermost points of the lower left and upper right diagonals of the St Patrick's cross are cut off or truncated. TheGarter King of Arms also suggests a ratio of 3:5 as the suitable proportion for a Union Flag flown on land.[45] Thewar flag used by theBritish Army has the proportions 3:5.[46]
The King's Harbour Master's flag, similar to the Pilot Jack, is a 1:2 flag that contains a white-bordered Union Flag that is longer than 1:2. The jacks of ships flying variants of theBlue Ensign are square and have a square Union Flag in the canton.[44] TheKing's Colours of Army regiments are 36 by 43 inches (910 mm × 1,090 mm); on them, the bars of the cross and saltire are of equal width, as are their respective narrow fimbriations.[47]
Although the proclamation of 1801 did not specify colours beyondazure,argent andgules (blue, silver/white and red, respectively), theGarter King of Arms, under the authority of theEarl Marshal, has approved the below shades as an accurate representation:[45][30][48]
Correct vertical displays of the Union Flag. The left view is also the vertical display used if there is no staff or a bi-supported staff is used, and flag is only seen from one direction.
Hoist on the left
Hoist on the right
The correct way to fly the flag. If no staff is used and the flag is only seen from one direction, the view shown at left is used.
Wrong way, hoist on the left
Wrong way, hoist on the right
The flag is sometimes mistakenly flown upside down, as shown.
The flag does not have reflection symmetry due to the slight pinwheeling of the St Patrick's and St Andrew's crosses, technically thecounterchange of saltires. Thus, there is a correct side up. It is one of two national flags withtwo-fold rotational symmetry,symmetry group C2, the other being theflag of Trinidad and Tobago. The original specification of the Union Flag in the royal proclamation of 1 January 1801 did not contain a drawn pattern or express which way the saltires should lie; they were simply "counterchanged" and the red saltire fimbriated. Nevertheless, a convention was soon established which accords most closely with the description. The flag was deliberately designed with the Irish saltire slightly depressed at the hoist end to reflect the earlier union with Scotland, giving as it were seniority to the Saint Andrew's cross.
When statically displayed, the hoist is on the observer's left. To fly the flag correctly, the white of St Andrew isabove the red of St Patrick in the upper hoist canton (the quarter at the top nearest to the flag-pole). This is expressed by the phraseswide white top andbroadside up. An upside-down flag must beturned over to be flown correctly;rotating it 180 degrees will still result in an upside-down flag.
The first drawn pattern for the flag was in a parallel proclamation on 1 January 1801, concerning civil naval ensigns, which drawing shows thered ensign (also to be used as a red jack byprivateers). As it appears in theLondon Gazette, the broad stripe is where expected for three of the four quarters, but the upper left quarter shows the broad stripe below.[28]
It is often stated that a flag upside down is a form of distress signal or even a deliberate insult. In the case of the Union Flag, the difference is subtle and is easily missed by the uninformed. It is often displayed upside down inadvertently—even on commercially-made hand waving flags.[51]
One early proposal for the Union Jack, consisting of a white St Andrew's saltire with blue fimbriation superimposed over a red St George's cross on a field of white
A reconstruction of the Union Jack displayed on the ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace
Various other designs for a common flag were drawn up following the union of the two Crowns in 1603, but were rarely, if ever, used.[53] One version showed St George's cross with St Andrew's cross in the canton, and another version placed the two crosses side by side. A painted wooden ceiling boss fromLinlithgow Palace, dated to about 1617, depicts the Scottish royal unicorn holding a flag where a blueSaltire surmounts the red cross of St. George.
On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent the regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined together,[27] forming the flag of Great Britain and first union flag:
By the King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle and Kingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe the Red Crosse, commonly called St George's Crosse, and the White Crosse, commonly called St Andrew's Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed.[54]
This royal flag was, at first, to be used only at sea on civil and military ships of both England and Scotland, whereas land forces continued to use their respective national banners.[55] Flying the national flag at the mainmast had signified theAdmiral of the Narrow Seas (theEnglish Channel) and confusion arose. In 1634,King Charles I restricted its use toRoyal Navy ships.[56][23] After theActs of Union 1707, the flag gained a regularised status as "the ensign armorial of theKingdom of Great Britain", the newly created state. It was then adopted by land forces as well, although the blue field used on land-based versions more closely resembled that of the blue of the flag of Scotland.
Various shades of blue have been used in the saltire over the years. The ground of the current Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue (Pantone 280), which can be traced to the colour used for theBlue Ensign of theRoyal Navy's historic "Blue Squadron". (Dark shades of colour were used onmaritime flags on the basis of durability.) In 2003 a committee of theScottish Parliament recommended that the flag of Scotland use a lighter "royal" blue (Pantone 300) (the Office of theLord Lyon does not detail specific shades of colour for use in heraldry).
A thin white stripe, orfimbriation, separates the red cross from the blue field, in accordance with heraldry'srule of tincture where colours (such as red and blue) must be separated from each other by metals (such as white, i.e.argent or silver). Theblazon for the old union flag, to be compared with the current flag, isazure, the cross saltire of St Andrew argent surmounted by the Cross of St George gules, fimbriated of the second.
The original flag appears in the canton of the Commissioners' Ensign of theNorthern Lighthouse Board. This is the only contemporary official representation of the pre-1801 Union Jack in the United Kingdom[58] and can be seen flying from theirGeorge Street headquarters inEdinburgh.
The Union Jack flown onHMS Queen Charlotte, the Royal Navy flagship during theGlorious First of June in 1794. As is common for the period, the flag is an approximation of the Union Jack's proper specification.
The flag is also flown besideCustoms House in Loftus Street,Sydney, to mark the raising of the Union Jack byCaptain Phillip atSydney Cove, the site of the first British settlement inNew South Wales andAustralia in 1788. On the plaque it is referred to as the "Jack of Queen Anne".
TheBritish Army's flag is the Union Jack, but in 1938, a "British Army Non-Ceremonial Flag" was devised, featuring a lion on crossed blades with theSt Edward's Crown on a red background. This is not the equivalent of the ensigns of the other armed services but is used at recruiting and military or sporting events, when the army needs to be identified but the reverence and ceremony due to theregimental flags and the Union Jack would be inappropriate.
Scottish Union Flag depicted in the 1704 edition ofThe Present State of the Universe.
In objecting to the design of the Union Flag adopted in 1606, whereby the cross of Saint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, a number of owners and masters of merchant vessels in theKingdom of Scotland raised the issue withJohn Erskine, 19th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint to James VI, via thePrivy Council of Scotland, which stated:
Most sacred Soverayne. A greate nomber of the maisteris and awnaris of the schippis of this your Majesteis kingdome hes verie havelie compleint to your Majesteis Counsell that the form and patrone of the flaggis of schippis, send doun heir and commandit to be ressavit and used be the subjectis of boith kingdomes, is very prejudiciall to the fredome and dignitie of this Estate and will gif occasioun of reprotche to this natioun quhairevir the said flage sal happin to be worne beyond sea becaus, as your sacred majestie may persave, the Scottis Croce, callit Sanctandrois Croce is twyse divydit, and the Inglishe Croce, callit Sanct George, haldin haill and drawne through the Scottis Croce, whiche is thairby obscurit and no takin nor merk to be seen of the Scottis Armes. This will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesteis subjectis, and it is to be ferit that some inconvenientis sall fall out betwix thame, for oure seyfairing men cannot be inducit to ressave that flag as it is set doun. They haif drawne two new drauchtis and patronis as most indifferent for boith kingdomes which they present to the Counsell, and craved our approbatioun of the same; bot we haif reserved that to you Majesteis princelie determination.[61]
Although documents accompanying this complaint which contained drafts for alternative designs have been lost, evidence exists, at least on paper, of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost. There is reason to think that cloth flags of this design were employed during the 17th century for unofficial use on Scottish vessels at sea.[62][63][64] This flag's design is also described in the 1704 edition ofThe Present State of the Universe byJohn Beaumont, which contains as an appendixThe Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World.[65]
On land, evidence confirming the use of this flag appears in the depiction ofEdinburgh Castle byJohn Slezer, in his series ofengravings entitledTheatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions ofTheatrum Scotiae, theNorth East View of Edinburgh Castle engraving depicts theScotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Palace block of the Castle.[67] OnThe North Prospect of the City of Edenburgh engraving, the flag is indistinct.[68]
On 17 April 1707, two weeks prior to theActs of Union coming into effect, and with SirHenry St George, the younger, theGarter King of Arms, having presented several designs of flag toQueen Anne and herPrivy Council for consideration, the flag for the soon to be unifiedKingdom of Great Britain was chosen. At the suggestion of the Scots representatives, the designs for consideration included that version of Union Jack showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts".[69] However, the Queen and her Council approved Sir Henry's original effort, numbered "one".[69]
A manuscript compiled in 1785 by William Fox and in possession of theFlag Research Center includes a full plate showing "the scoth [sic] union" flag. This could imply that there was still some use of a Scottish variant before the addition of the cross of St Patrick to the Union Flag in 1801.[64]
A Union Jack flown aboardHMS Spartiate during theBattle of Trafalgar in 1805, which took place several years after the second Union Jack was adopted.
The current and second Union Jack dates from 1 January 1801 with theAct of Union 1800, which merged theKingdom of Great Britain and theKingdom of Ireland to form theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The new design added a redsaltire, thecross of Saint Patrick (which originates from the arms of theOld EnglishFitzGerald family rather than directly from the saint),[70] for Ireland. This iscounterchanged with the saltire of St Andrew, such that the red always follows the white clockwise. The arrangement has introduced a requirement to display the flag "the right way up" (seespecifications for flag use above). As with the red cross, so too the red saltire is separated by a white fimbriation from the blue field.[30] This fimbriation is repeated for symmetry on the white portion of the saltire, which thereby appears wider than the red portion. The fimbriation of the cross of St George separates its red from the red of the saltire.
Flag speculation after Irish Free State establishment
When theAnglo-Irish Treaty was concluded on 6 December 1921 and the creation of the newIrish Free State was an imminent prospect, the question arose as to whether the cross of Saint Patrick should remain in the Union Jack.The New York Times reported that on 22 January 1922:
At theCollege of Arms it was stated that certain modifications were under consideration and that if any action were taken it would be done by the King in Council. No parliamentary action would be necessary. Heraldry experts say that alterations in arms are very expensive. Some years ago there was a demand from Irish quarters that the blue ground of the golden harp on the royal standard should be changed to green. It was then estimated that the alteration would cost at least £2,000,000. To remove all reference to Ireland from the present Union Jack and Royal Arms would be vastly more expensive.[71]
There was some speculation on the matter in British dominions also, with one New Zealand paper reporting that:
...the removal of the cross of St. Patrick Cross after 120 years will transform the appearance of the flag. It will certainly become a flag under which great victories were won in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but to most minds the sentimental loss will be great. Probably it will be found that the deletion is not absolutely necessary. Other possible changes include the abolition of the title of the United Kingdom, and the removal of the harp from the Royal Standard and the Coat of Arms, and the substitution of the Ulster emblem.[72]
However, the fact that it was likely thatNorthern Ireland would remain in the United Kingdom gave better grounds for keeping the cross of St. Patrick in the Union Jack. In this regard,Sir James Craig, thePrime Minister of Northern Ireland remarked in December 1921 that he and his government were "glad to think that our decision [to remain part of United Kingdom] will obviate the necessity of mutilating the Union Jack."[73] Though remaining within the United Kingdom, the new government of Northern Ireland dispensed with the St Patrick's Saltire in favour ofa new flag derived from thecoat-of-arms of the Burkes, Earls of Ulster, and quite similar to England's St George's Cross.
Ultimately, when the Britishhome secretary was asked on 7 December 1922 (the day after the Irish Free State was established) whether theGarter King of Arms was "to issue any Regulations with reference to the national flag consequent to the passing of the Irish Free State Constitution Act", the response was no and the flag has never been changed.[74]
ADáil question in 1961 mooted raising the removal of the cross of St Patrick with the British government; Frank Aiken, theIrish Minister for External Affairs, declined to "waste time on heraldic disputations".[75]
One suggested redesign of the Union Jack with the red dragon from theflag of Wales added in the centre
The lack of any Welsh symbol or colours in the flag is a result of Wales having been considered an integral part of the Kingdom of England at the time theflag of Great Britain was created in 1606. Since there is no Welsh element in the Union Jack,Wrexham'sLabourMPIan Lucas proposed on 26 November 2007 in aHouse of Commons debate that the Union Flag be combined with theWelsh flag to reflect Wales's status within the UK, and that thered dragon be added to the Union Flag's red, white, and blue pattern.[76] He said the Union Jack currently only represented the other three UK nations, andMinister for Culture, Creative Industries and TourismMargaret Hodge conceded that Lucas had raised a valid point for debate. She said, "the Government is keen to make the Union Flag a positive symbol of Britishness reflecting the diversity of our country today and encouraging people to take pride in our flag." This development sparked design contests with entries from all over the world.[77]
In the run-up to the2014 Scottish independence referendum, various non-official suggestions were made for how the flag could be redesigned without the St Andrew's Cross if Scotland left the Union. However, as Scotland voted against independence, the issue did not arise.[78][79]
In September 2025, theEngland flag and the Union Jack became increasingly visible in theUK, in what was described as a "flag phenomenon".[80] The first major display occurred inWeoley Castle, a neighbourhood of largely postwar council stock homes, before spreading to other parts ofBirmingham in response to the 'proliferation' ofPalestine flags.[80][81] The phenomenon drew media attention after local authorities inBirmingham andYork ordered the removal ofBritish flags while allowingPalestine flags to remain, prompting public backlash and accusations of political double standards.[80][81]
A Union Jack flying from a jackstaff onboard a Royal Navy warship, 2011
The Union Jack is used as ajack by commissioned warships and submarines of theRoyal Navy, and by commissionedarmy andRoyal Air Force vessels. When at anchor or alongside, it is flown from thejackstaff at thebow of the ship. When a ship is underway, the Union Jack is only flown from the jackstaff when the ship is dressed for a special occasion, such as the King's official birthday.
The Union Flag is worn at the masthead of a ship to indicate the presence of anAdmiral of the Fleet, formerFirst Sea Lords andAdmirals who are or have beenChief of Defence Staff. On the day on which acourt-martial is to sit, the Union Flag is to be hoisted at the peak or at the yardarm as appropriate and a gun is to be fired when colours are hoisted, or at the time the signal is made if the court is ordered to sit immediately.[82]
The Royal Standard is flown when the Sovereign embarks in a warship. When other members of the Royal family embark they fly their own personal standard, which is usually a modified version of the Royal Standard.
No law has been passed making the Union Jack the national flag of the United Kingdom: it has become one through precedent. Its first recorded recognition as a national flag came in 1908, when it was stated in Parliament that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".[83] A more categorical statement was made byHome SecretarySir John Gilmour, in 1933 when he stated that "the Union Flag is the national flag and may properly be flown by any British subject on land."[84]
Union Jacks on two flagpoles hanging from a building inSurrey, 2012
Civilian use is permitted on land, but use of the unmodified flag at sea is restricted to military vessels. Unauthorised use of the flag in the 17th century to avoid paying harbour duties – a privilege restricted to naval ships – caused James's successor,Charles I, to order that use of the flag on naval vessels be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure."[23] It remains a criminal offence under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995[85] to display the Union Flag (other than the "pilot jack" – see below) from a British ship. Naval ships will fly thewhite ensign, merchant and private boats can fly thered ensign, others with special permission such as naval yacht clubs can fly theblue ensign. All of the coloured ensigns contain the union flag as part of the design.
TheCourt of the Lord Lyon, which has legal jurisdiction in heraldic matters in Scotland, confirms that the Union Jack "is the correct flag for all citizens and corporate bodies of the United Kingdom to fly to demonstrate their loyalty and their nationality."[86]
Vertical displays of the Union Flag during a parade for Elizabeth II'sofficial birthday
In July 2007, prime ministerGordon Brown unveiled plans to have the Union Flag flown more often from government buildings.[89] While consultation on new guidelines was under way, the decision to fly the flag could be made by each government department.[needs update] In March 2021, the UK government published new guidance for the Union Flag to be flown all year round on UK government buildings, unless another flag is being flown, such as another national flag of the UK, a county flag, or other flags to mark civic pride.[90]
Greater London: the opening and proroguing of Parliament
The Union Flag is flown athalf-mast from the announcement of the death of the sovereign (save for Proclamation Day), or upon command of the sovereign.[92]
On 30 November,St Andrew's Day, the Union Flag can be flown in Scotland only where a building has more than one flagpole—on this day the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole.[93] This difference arose aftermembers of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day. However, on 23 April, St George's Day, it is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom that is flown over UK government offices in England.[94]
The Union Flag has no official status in the United Kingdom, and there are no national regulations concerning its use or prohibitions againstflag desecration. In Northern Ireland, theFlags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 provide for the flying of the flag on government buildings on certain occasions, when it is flown half-mast, and how it is displayed with other flags.[95]
The Flags and Heraldry Committee, anall-party parliamentary group lobbying for official standards, cooperated with theFlag Institute in 2010 to publish a set of recommended guidelines for the flag's display and use as a symbol.[96]
There is no specific way in which the Union Flag should be folded. It is usually folded rectilinearly, with the hoist on the outside, to be easily reattached to the pole.[96][97]
Royal Navy Stores Duties Instructions, article 447, dated 26 February 1914, specified that flags condemned from further service use were to be torn up into small pieces and disposed of as rags, not to be used for decoration or sold. The exception was flags that had flown in action: these could be framed and kept on board, or transferred to a "suitable place", such as a museum.[30]
The Union Jack, with the flags of the European Union and Gibraltar on its sides. The Union Flag is placed in a raised, central position.
According to the UK Flag Protocol, the order of precedence of flags in the United Kingdom is: theRoyal Standards, the Union Flag, the flag of the host country (England, Scotland and Wales etc.), the flags of other nations (inEnglishalphabetical order), theCommonwealth Flag, the county flags, the flags of cities or towns, the banners of arms, and the house flags.[98]
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
The Union Jack is the national flag of theBritish Overseas Territories, which are parts of the British realm with varying degrees of local autonomy. Most populated administrative regions and territories of the United Kingdom have been granted a unique flag for the locality, usually theBlue ensign orRed ensign defaced with the distinguishing arms of the territory. All fly the Union Jack in some form, with the exception ofGibraltar (other than the government ensign).
TheCrown Dependencies, unlike the British Overseas Territories, are legally not part of the United Kingdom, and the Union Jack is not an official flag there. Outside the UK, the Union Jack is usually part of a specialensign in which it is placed in the upper left hand corner of a blue field, with a signifying crest in the bottom right. When the Union Jack and the territorial flag are flown together, the national flag is always arranged to take precedence over the territorial flag.[99]
The Union Flag was used formally as the Australian national flag until 1953, having official precedence over theAustralian Blue Ensign, though the latter was used by government and informally.[100] Schools were encouraged to fly the Union Jack to encourage patriotism for the British Empire, with South Australia requiring students from 1911 to 1956 to fly the Union Jack for the "national salute".[101]
Over time, the blue ensign came to be used and embraced as the national flag, officially being designated as theAustralian National Flag in 1953 with the passage of theFlags Act.[101] Due to the sensitivity of those who still considered the Union Jack the national flag, the act specified that it did "not affect the right or privilege of a person to fly the Union Jack".[102] Additionally, Australian prime ministerRobert Menzies told Australians that the Union Flag would be flown together with the Australian national flag "on notable occasions".[101] The Union Jack continued to see informal use as a flag of Australia for a period thereafter, although by the 1980s, the majority of Australians viewed the Australian blue ensign as the national flag as opposed to the Union Jack.[103]
The Union Flag and theU.S. flag at theCanada-U.S. border, 1899. The Union Flag was the formal flag of Canada until 1965.
The Union Jack was the official nationalflag of Canada until 1965 when it was replaced in that role by the Maple Leaf flag.[104][105] Since 1965, the Union Jack in Canada is used as an authorised symbol to represent Canada's "membership in theCommonwealth of Nations and its allegiance tothe Crown".[106]
In addition to the Union Jack, during the late 19th century, a red ensign defaced with thearms of Canada was also used as an informal flag of Canada. The defaced red ensign, later known as theCanadian Red Ensign, was eventually authorised for official use as the country's civil ensign in 1892. Although the Canadian Red Ensign was only formally authorised as a civil ensign, it was also viewed as ade facto national flag, as it was a uniquely Canadian symbol.[104]
VE Day celebrations inToronto in 1945, with several buildings flying the Union Jack and several people waving the flag.
In 1964, Canadian Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson introduced plans to replace the Union Flag with a new national flag, spurring theGreat Canadian flag debate.[104] A new national flag, theMaple Leaf, was approved by theparliament of Canada on 18 December 1964.[104][107] However, on the following day, the Canadian parliament passed another resolution that designated the Union Flag as theRoyal Union Flag and authorised its official use as the symbol of the country's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and its allegiance to the Crown.[106] On 15 February 1965, the maple leaf flag formally replaced the Union Flag as the flag of Canada following an official proclamation byElizabeth II,[104] with the Royal Union Flag becoming an official ceremonial flag.[106] The Royal Union Flag's specific use as approved by parliament was registered with theCanadian Heraldic Authority in May 2005.[107]
The Union Flag was also legislated as the national flag for theDominion of Newfoundland in 1931, a separatedominion of the British Empire.Newfoundland retained the Union Flag as a provincial flag after it joined the Canadian confederation in 1949, reaffirmed through the 1952 Revised Statutes of Newfoundland. In 1980, theflag of Newfoundland was adopted as the new provincial flag, with the design for the new flag of Newfoundland being derived from the Union Flag.[108]
The parliamentary resolution passed on 18 December 1964 assigned two purposes for the Royal Union Flag: a flag representing the United Kingdom and an official ceremonial flag of Canada.[105] When used to represent the United Kingdom, the flag takes precedence before the flag of a Canadian province or territory. However, when the flag is used as a ceremonial flag of Canada, the flag of a Canadian province or territory takes precedence before the Royal Union Flag.[105]
The parliamentary resolution requires the Royal Union Flag to be flown alongside the national flag of Canada (if there are at least two flag poles available) on federal properties onCommonwealth Day,Victoria Day (themonarch's official birthday in Canada), 11 December (the anniversary of the enactment of theStatute of Westminster, 1931), and when otherwise instructed to do so by theNational Defence Headquarters.[106][105] The Royal Union Flag may also be formally flown alongside the flag of Canada at federal locations in Canada for ceremonies, anniversaries, and other events relating to theCanadian Armed Forces or other forces in the Commonwealth.[106][105]
Items and properties that the parliamentary resolution applies to includes buildings operated by the federal government, military installations, federally-operated airports, at the masthead ofRoyal Canadian Navy ships within Canadian waters, and other appropriate establishments. The requirement for federal properties to fly the Royal Union Flag applies only when there are two or more flagpoles on the property, to ensure that the national flag of Canada is not taken down in place of the Royal Union Flag.[106][105][109]
The Union Flag became the flag of New Zealand after theTreaty of Waitangi was signed in February 1840, replacing the flag used by theUnited Tribes of New Zealand.[110] The issue of flying the flag of the United Tribes alongside the Union Jack, as a symbol of their equal standing with the colonial government, was a factor that led to theFlagstaff War, led byNgāpuhi chiefHōne Heke.[110] British maritime flags were used by New Zealand vessels until 1865.[110] After the passage of theColonial Naval Defence Act 1865, vessels of the New Zealand government used a defacedblue ensign issued by the colonial government.
Thecurrent national flag of New Zealand was given official standing under the New Zealand Ensign Act in 1902, replacing the Union Flag.[110][111] However, the Union Flag continued to see tandem use with the national flag of New Zealand into the 1950s.[110]
The Union Jack was used as the flag of a variety of colonies in South Africa since 1795. The Union Jack was retained as the official flag of theUnion of South Africa after its formation in 1910. In addition to the Union Jack, from 1910 to 1928, theSouth African Red Ensign was also treated as an unofficial flag of the union.
Proposals to adopt a national flag were made during the 1920s. In 1927, the Union Nationality and Flag Act was passed by theParliament of South Africa, which named both the Union Jack and theOranje, Blanje, Blou flag of South Africa as the flags of the union, both co-equal in status. TheOranje, Blanje, Blou flag also incorporated the Union Jack in its design, alongside theflag of the Orange Free State and theflag of the South African Republic. The Union Jack was to be flown alongside theOranje, Blanje, Blou at principal government buildings in the capitals, at Union ports, on government offices abroad, and at such other places as the government might determine.[112][113] The act went into effect on 31 May 1928.
Instructions issued in 1931 confirmed the places where both flags were to be flown. In addition to those already mentioned, they were theUnion Buildings in Pretoria, the head offices of the four provincial administrations, thesupreme courts, certainmagistrates' courts, customs houses, and three buildings inDurban (the general post office, therailway station, and the localmilitary district headquarters).[114][113] Under these arrangements, the Union Jack was subordinate to theOranje, Blanje, Blou. As the two flags had to be the same size, it meant that the Union Jack was made in the ratio 2:3 rather than the usual 1:2.[114][113]
This dual arrangement continued until 1957, when the Flags Amendment Act was passed naming theOranje, Blanje, Blou as the sole flag of South Africa.[115] TheOranje, Blanje, Blou was replaced by theflag of South Africa in 1994 as the country's national flag.
However, the meaning behind the use of the flags by pro-democracy protestors, including the Union Flag, remains disputed with protestors citing a variety of reasons for flying it.[119] Some pro-democracy protestors that flew foreign flags, including the Union Flag, did so in an effort to attract international media attention to the protests, while others did so in an effort to irritate the central government of China.[119][120] The Union Flag, in addition to other foreign flags, were also used by some protestors to illustrate their desire for Hong Kong to be an "international city"; whereas others used the flag simply as a generic symbol of freedom.[119][121][122]
Some specifically flew the Union Flag and the colonial flag of Hong Kong, nostalgic of the "values" of the previous colonial government, namely "personal freedoms, rule of law, [and] clean governance".[116][118] Other pro-democracy protestors choose to use the Union Flag and the colonial flag of Hong Kong in an effort to call upon the British government to declare that China had failed to uphold theSino-British Joint Declaration.[119] Several Hongkongers that holdBritish National (Overseas) passports who used the flag during the protests were doing so as a call to the British government to grant British National (Overseas) the right to abode in the United Kingdom.[119] Although a small number of Hongkongers seek direct British intervention into the matter, the majority of those that used the Union Flag or the colonial flag of Hong Kong during the protests do not hold such beliefs.[118]
The use of foreign flags at the protests, including the Union Flag, has been cited multiple times by the central government of China as evidence for their claim that foreign interference is steering the protests in Hong Kong against the central government.[119] Conversely, several protestors in the pro-democracy camp have also criticised the use of foreign flags, who view their use as reinforcing the claims made by the central government of China.[119]
National flags of sovereign states whose design incorporates a Union Jack in their canton
Four former British colonies in Oceania which are now independent countries incorporate the Union Jack as part of their national flags: Australia, New Zealand andTuvalu, which have retained the monarchy; andFiji, whichabolished the monarchy in 1987.
In former British colonies, the Union Jack was used interchangeably with informal flags of the territory for significant parts of their colonial early history. The Union Flag was used as the flag of Canada until it was re-adopted as a ceremonial flag, and the Maple Leaf flag made the official national flag in 1965. In addition to being an official ceremonial flag, the Union Flag also defaces the flags of a number of Canadian provinces, includingBritish Columbia,Manitoba, andOntario.Newfoundland and Labrador uses a flag that was derived from the Union Flag, with the Union Jack serving as the flag of Newfoundland until 1980. The Union Flag, and flags defaced with the Union Flag in its canton, similar to the Canadian Red Ensign, continue to see use in Canada in a private capacity. The pre-1801 Union Flag also sees limited use by private organisations, most notably theUnited Empire Loyalists Association of Canada.[124]
Along with the national flag, many otherAustralian flags retain the use of the Union Jack, including theRoyal Australian Navy Ensign (also known as the Australian White Ensign), theRoyal Australian Air Force Ensign, theAustralian Red Ensign (for use by merchant and private vessels), and theAustralian Civil Aviation Ensign. The flags of all six Australian States retain the Union Jack in the canton, as do some regional flags such as the Upper and LowerMurray River Flags. The Vice-Regal flags of the State Governors also use the Union Jack. While theFlags Act 1953 states that Australians still have the "right or privilege" to fly the Union Jack after the introduction of the Australian National Flag, usage of the Union Jack by itself is unusual. The unofficial flag ofLord Howe Island harks to the pre-1801 Union Jack.[125]
TheBasque Country's flag, theIkurriña, is also loosely based on the Union Jack, reflecting the significant commercial ties betweenBilbao and Britain at the time theIkurriña was designed in 1894. TheMiskito people sometimes use a similar flag that also incorporates the Union Jack in its canton, due to long periods of contact in theMosquito Coast.
Former national flags that incorporated the Union Jack in their design
The Union Jack was used by the United States in its first flag, the Continental Union Flag. This flag was of a similar design to the one used by theBritish East India Company. The historicalKingdom of Hawaii adopted a flag featuring a Union Jack which was retained whenHawaii became a US state in 1959. Hawaii's flag represents the only current use of the Union Jack in any American state flag.
The Union Jack also appeared on both the 1910–1928 and 1928–1994flags of South Africa. The1910–1928 flag was aRed Ensign with theUnion coat of arms in the fly. The 1928–1994 flag, based on thePrinsenvlag and commonly known as theoranje-blanje-blou (orange-white-blue), contained the Union Jack as part of a central motif at par with the flags of the twoBoer republics of theOrange Free State andTransvaal. To keep any one of the three flags from having precedence, the Union Jack is spread horizontally from the Orange Free State flag towards the hoist; closest to the hoist, it is in the superior position but since it is reversed it does not precede the other flags. The presentflag of South Africa features a nod to the Union Jack in its red, white and blue portion, the colours also harking to theSouth African Republic and theDutch tricolour.[129]
The flag of the Municipal Council ofShanghai International Settlement in 1869 contained multiple flags to symbolise the countries have participated in the creation and management of this enclave in the Chinese city of Shanghai. The Union Jack was contained as part of top left hand shield and close to the flags of the United States andFrance, there was also contained theflag of Prussia nearby, but it was removed around 1917.
The flag of theChilean city ofCoquimbo features the Union Jack, owing to its historical commercial links to Britain.
Selected British colonial and overseas territorial flags that incorporate the Union Jack
The Union Flag can be found in the canton of several of theensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. These are used in cases where it is illegal to fly the Union Flag, such as at sea from a ship other than a British warship. Normal practice for British ships is to fly theWhite ensign (Royal Navy), theRed ensign (Merchant and private boats) or theBlue ensign (government departments and public corporations). Similar ensigns are used by other countries (such asNew Zealand andAustralia) with the Union Flag in the canton. Other Commonwealth countries (such asIndia andJamaica) may follow similar ensign etiquette as the UK, replacing the Union Flag with their own national flag.
APilot Jack, a flag design that has a Union Jack at its centre, with a white border around it
The flag in a white border occasionally seen on merchant ships was sometimes referred to as thePilot Jack. It can be traced back to 1823 when it was created as a signal flag, but not intended as a civil jack. A book[clarification needed] issued to Britishconsuls in 1855 states that the white bordered Union Flag is to be hoisted for a pilot. Although there was some ambiguity regarding the legality of it being flown for any other purpose on civilian vessels, its use as an ensign or jack was established well in advance of the 1864 Act that designated theRed Ensign for merchant shipping. In 1970, the white-bordered Union Flag ceased to be the signal for a pilot, but references to it as national colours were not removed from the current Merchant Shipping Act and it was legally interpreted as a flag that could be flown on a merchant ship, as a jack if desired. This status was confirmed to an extent by the Merchant Shipping (Registration, etc.) Act 1993 and the consolidating Merchant Shipping Act 1995 which, in Section 4, Subsection 1, prohibits the use of any distinctive national colours or those used or resembling flags or pendants on Her Majesty's Ships, "except theRed Ensign, the Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack) with a white border", and some other exceptions permitted elsewhere in the Acts. However, Section 2 regards the "British flag", and states that "The flag which every British ship is entitled to fly is the Red Ensign (without any defacement or modification) and, subject to (a warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State, or an Order of Council from her Majesty regarding a defacedRed Ensign), no other colours."[130] The Flag Institute listed the white bordered Union Flag as "Civil Jack".[18]
Naval Jack ofRoyal Indian Marine (1884-1928), a flag design that has a Union Jack at its centre, with a blue border around it
From 1884 until 1928, theRoyal Indian Marine flew a modified Union Jack bordered with blue as its jack. From 11 November 1928 until its dissolution in 1947, it substituted theBlue Ensign defaced with theStar of India emblem as jack and flew the BritishWhite ensign as ensign.[131]
TheHudson's Bay Company (HBC) was one of a few non-government institutions using the Union Jack in part of the flag. HBC rivalNorth West Company had a similar flag as well. The HBC Red Ensign is no longer in use in 1965 and replaced with a corporate flag featuring the company's coat of arms.
An unofficial flag for the British Empire was created around 1910 due to a belief that the Union Jack itself no longer sufficiently represented dominions such as Canada, which were beginning to adopt their own unique symbols. The flag was similar in design to a White Ensign, which features the Union Jack in the canton. In the other quadrants were the coats of arms of Canada, Australia, and South Africa. The four stars formingthe Crux over Saint George's Cross represented New Zealand, and the Star of India was featured prominently in the middle. Civilians often flew Empire flags for patriotic events such as coronations,Empire Day, and theBritish Empire Exhibition.[132] It is still flown on special occasions at theDangarsleigh War Memorial.[133]
The Union Jack is the thirdquarter of the 1939coat of arms of Alabama, which is used on the flag of the governor of Alabama, representing British sovereignty over the state prior to 1783. The version used is the modern flag, whereas the 1707 flag would have been used in colonial Alabama.
A pink Union Jack
A pink Union Jack, with the blue triangles of the Union Jack changed to pink in reference to thepink triangle symbol, was created by a gay man, David Gwinnutt, to express his "pride in being gay and British."[134][135][136]
In the former International Settlement ofKulangsu the Kulangsu Municipal Police had a badge contained multiple flags, including the Union Flag. The badge was incorporated into their police flag.[137]
The Union Jack remains one of the most instantly-recognisable flags in the world.[138][139] This is chiefly due not only to its iconic and unusual design, but the influence ofBritishculture across the globe as a result of theBritish Empire, and its resulting presence in severalCommonwealth nations' flags and heraldry. While most of the former colonies of the British Empire have chosen to omit the Union Jack in their national flags, some countries such asAustralia andNew Zealand have chosen to keep the Union Jack as a symbol of their British heritage, despite numerous attempts to change it.[140][141]
British Airways painted a cropped Union Flag on their tail fins until 1984; from 1997 on, they started painting a stylised, fluttering Union flag on tail fins, nicknamedChatham Dockyard Union Flag. The coat of arms of British Airways also features theescutcheon cropped from the Union Flag.[147] British Airways used the coat of arms on their aircraft via the Landor livery between 1984 and 1997 and added back in 2011; they also used it as cap badge for pilots or in advertisements.[148][149][150]
The BMW Mini tail lights are shaped after the Union Jack.[151]
^Graham Bartram (born 1963), a British vexillologist who is, as of 2013[update], the secretary-general for congresses of theFédération internationale des associations vexillologiques and the chief vexillologist of the Flag Institute, when interviewed on theBBCBroadcasting House programme on 13 October 2013, stated that either name was perfectly valid whatever the purpose. He stated that the theory that the flag should only be referred to as "Union Jack" when flown at sea was wrong.[7]
^"Union Jack".The British Monarchy. Archived fromthe original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved12 August 2013.
^A.C. Fox-Davies,The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory (1904, reprinted 1986,ISBN978-0-906223-34-5), p. 399: "By the King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle andKingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe theRed Crosse, commonly calledSt George's Crosse, and theWhite Crosse, commonly calledSt Andrew's Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by ourheralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed"|James VI and I|Orders in Council; Official creation of the Union Flag – 1606."
^abMarshall, Tim (2017).A flag worth dying for: the power and politics of national symbols. New York, NY: Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.ISBN978-1-5011-6833-8.OCLC962006347.
^The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (1911) [1908],Manual of Seamanship, vol. I, London: HMSO, p. 20,Note – A Jack is a Flag to be flown only at the "Jack" Staff,i.e., a staff on the bowsprit or forepart of the ship. ... In 1660 the Duke of York, later James II.) gave an order that the Union Flag should be worn only by the King's ships.
^Bartram, Graham (2002)."A Guide to Flag Protocol in the United Kingdom (An extract from the book "British Flags and Emblems")"(PDF).www.naco.uk.com. The National Association of Civic Officers (NACO). Retrieved5 September 2021.General Precedence: The Royal Standard; The Personal Flag of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; The Personal Flag of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; The Personal Flag of HRH The Prince of Wales; The Personal Flag of HRH Prince William of Wales; The Personal Flag of HRH The Duke of York; The Personal Flag of HRH The Earl of Wessex; The Personal Flag of HRH The Princess Royal; The Personal Flag of HRH The Duke of Gloucester; The Personal Flag of HRH The Duke of Kent; The Personal Flag of HRH Prince Michael of Kent; The Personal Flag of HRH Princess Alexandra; The Other Members' Standard; The Union Flag; The White Ensign of the Royal Navy; The Ensign of the Royal Air Force; The Blue and Red Ensigns; National Flag of the host constituent nation, crown dependency or over-seas territory; National Flags of England, Scotland, Wales, Crown dependencies and overseas territories; National Flags of other nations (in English alphabetical order); The United Nations Flag; The Commonwealth Flag; The European Union Flag; The British Army Flag; Counties and Metropolitan Cities; Other Cities and Towns; Banners of Arms (both personal and corporate); House Flags
^Kelly, Ralph (8 August 2017)."A flag for the Empire"(PDF).The Flag Institute.Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved13 August 2023.
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