Hanging your Jubilee flags the right way
We are approaching the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend so the Union Jacks are appearing all over the UK. It’s wonderful to see them but did you know there is a correct way to hang our national flag?
The Union Jack combines the Cross of St Andrew (Scotland) with the Cross of St Patrick (Ireland) placed over the Cross of St George (England). The correct way to hang the flag is with the wider white diagonals on top next to the flag pole. It can be rotated but as it is not entirely symmetrical you can’t invert it. This little known fact leads to it often been seen upside down!
Deliberately flying a Union Jack upside down is actually known to be a signal of distress – or an insult to Crown. It is technically still a crime in the UK and the Commonwealth so make sure you hang yours the correct way!
The past couple of years has seen a profusion of Union Jacks appearing on high street products. It sometimes seems the flag is available in every possible colour combination and on every product you could imagine! If you plan to spend the weekend in bed maybe this patriotic bedding from John Lewis is for you. Although the designers have slightly changed the colours the dimensions of the flag are correct – and it’s the right way up!
We should all get into the Jubilee spirit and celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s dedication to our country. So get your Union Jack’s out – just make sure they are flown the right way, you really don’t want to be celebrating the Jubilee in the Tower of London 
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To the tower for me, I never new there was an incorrect way, I’m of to check the village bunting is legal! Nice post.
Thanks Tristan. An entire estate near us had theirs upside down – they are busy changing it now after my partner pointed out the error! Happy Jubilee ….
This drives my husband crazy but I didn’t even know the rule until recently – I certainly didn’t know it was an insult to the Crown! Really fun blog post Andrew, Happy Jubilee
It seems to be a man thing Louisa, a couple of other people have said it drives their husbands mad! Glad you liked the post – just make sure your flags are hanging the right way
Did you know that it is an offence punishable by law to place a stamp, which bears the Queen’s head, upside down on an envelope?
Did you also know that it is an offence to fly any other flag ABOVE the ‘Union Flag’ It is your ‘Right’ to fly the flag any time without permission BUT………. you have to apply for planning permission to have a permanent flagpole.
I’d love a flagpole outside my house!
Well as a flag seller I never knew any of this. By the way if you like top quality union jack flags, take a look in my store here http://www.mychichome.co.uk.