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The history, current status, and nomenclature of the Union Flag, and its use other than as a flag for the United Kingdom (for example, in Australia ), are treated more fully under the article Union Flag The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland uses as its national flag the royal banner commonly known as the Union Flag or, popularly, '''Union Jack''' (although officially this title should only be given to the flag when it is flown at sea). The current design of the Union Flag dates from the Union Of Ireland And Great Britain in 1801. It consists of the Red Cross of Saint George ( Patron Saint of England ), edged in white, superimposed on the Diagonal Red Cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland ), which are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland ). Its correct proportions are 1:2. However, the version officially used by the British Army modifies the proportions to 3:5. FLYING THE FLAG The Union Flag can be flown by any individual or organisation in England , Scotland or Wales on any day of their choice. Legal regulations restrict the use of the Union Flag on Government buildings in Northern Ireland . Long-standing restrictions on Government use of the flag elsewhere were abolished in July 2007. Upside-down While appearing symmetric, the flag is slightly different if flipped, as a mirror image. The flag can be placed upside down, if it is mirrored, but rotating it 180 degrees will have no change. Placing the flag upside down is considered to be '', November 13 , 1997 however, it can be deliberately flown upside down by the military as a distress signal. While this is rarely done these days, it was used by groups under siege during the Boer War and during campaigns in India in the late 18th century. Flag Days (United Kingdom Government) Until July 2007, the Union Flag was only flown on Government buildings on a limited number of special days each year. The choice of days was managed by the Government buildings are those used by Civil Servants , The Crown , or the armed forces. They were not applicable to private citizens, corporations, or local authorities. On 3 July 2007 , the Justice Secretary Jack Straw laid a Green Paper before Parliament entitled ''The Governance of Britain''. CM 7170 ''The Governance of Britain'' Alongside a range of proposed changes to the constitutional arrangements of the UK was a specific announcement that there would be consultation on whether the rules on flag-flying on Government buildings should be relaxed. Two days later, '' 6 July 2007 '', July 5 , 2007 James Purnell , the Culture Secretary has since concurred with the abolition of the restrictions – pending consultation on longer term arrangements. Flag days The Union Flag was only flown on days marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family , the wedding anniversary of the Monarch, Commonwealth Day , Accession Day , Coronation Day , The Queen's Official Birthday , Remembrance Sunday and on the days of the State Opening and Prorogation of Parliament . The flag days when the Union Flag should be flown from government buildings all over the UK are:
In addition, the flag should be flown in the following areas on the specified days:
On the national days of England, Scotland and Wales, the respective National Flag may also be flown if there is a second flagpole only. The National Flag cannot take precedence over the Union Flag, except in Scotland on Saint Andrew's Day. Flag Days (Scottish Executive) flies the Union Flag, the Saltire, and the EU Flag .]] In Scotland, the Scottish Executive has decreed that the Flag Of Scotland ("the Saltire") will fly on all its buildings everyday from 8am until sunset, but there is no specific policy on flying the Union Flag and as such it is sometimes flown alongside the saltire and sometimes omitted. An exception is made for "national days". On these days, the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag. These are the same as the flag days noted above with the exception of:
Another difference is that on / Flag Days (Northern Ireland) In and Princess Margaret, Countess Of Snowdon who both died that year. The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2002 The current flag days are now the same as the United Kingdom government days noted above with the exception of the Duchess of Cornwall's birthday, which was only added to the UK flag days after her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 2005, and has not yet been extended to Northern Ireland. The Police Service Of Northern Ireland is the only body in the United Kingdom that is not permitted to fly the Union Flag, and is only permitted to fly its service flag or the Royal Standard in the event of a visit by the Sovereign. Police Emblems and Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 Half-staff The Union Flag is flown from Government buildings at
The Sovereign sometimes declares other days when the Union Flag is to fly at Other bodies Individuals, companies, local authorities, hospitals, and schools are free to fly the flag whenever they choose. Planning permission is not required to fly the Union Flag from a flagpole. SEE ALSO
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