See Appendix B for a detailed precedence list and special precedence orders for international organisations. The order of precedence of flags in the UK is: Royal Standards, the Union Flag, the flag of the host country (England, Scotland, Wales, etc.), flags of other nations (in alphabetical order, see the list below), the Commonwealth Flag, the European Union Flag, county flags, flags of cities or towns, banners of arms, and house flags. If a purely decorative effect is desired it is better to confine the display to flags of lesser status for example, house flags, pennants or coloured bunting. It is most improper to fly the flag upside down. Important: the Union Flag has a correct way up – in the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe, as Scotland’s St Andrew’s Cross takes precedence over Ireland’s St Patrick’s Cross. To do so is to show disrespect for the nations they represent. National flags should never be flown in a worn or damaged condition, or when soiled. No permission is needed to fly the national flags and they are excluded from most planning and advertising regulations (but flagpoles may not be). įlags are normally flown from sunrise to sunset but they may also be flown at night, when they should be illuminated. Government and local authority buildings in England, Scotland and Wales are encouraged to fly national flags every day of the year (the flying of flags at certain locations in Northern Ireland is constrained by The Flags Regulations 2000 and Police Emblems and Flag Regulations 2002).

The use of any of the national flags to cover a statue, monument or plaque for an unveiling ceremony is discouraged.įlags may be flown on every day of the year. It is improper to use the national flags as a table or seat cover or as a masking for boxes, barriers, or the intervening space between a dais or platform and the floor. They should not be displayed in a position inferior to any other flag or ensign. the Union Flag and the flags of England, Scotland and Wales) should be displayed only in a dignified manner befitting the national emblems. The national flags of the United Kingdom (ie.

There is no Flag Act in UK law, and the Union Flag is the national flag by long-established custom and practice rather than by statute. It then became possible to display the flag, incorrectly, upside down. The present Union Flag dates from 1801 when St Patrick’s Cross was added to represent Ireland. The first Union Flag was created in 1606 and combined the flags of England and Scotland. 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.

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