May the 6th is almost upon us, Coronation Day. Lots of us will be hanging Union Jacks outside our windows and on our flag poles. It is important that we get it right and we hang our nations flag correctly. It is so easy to make a mistake.
When hanging the Union Jack, it is important to follow certain protocols to ensure it is displayed correctly. Here are the steps to hang the Union Jack the correct way:
- The Union Jack should be flown on its own flagpole or on a separate halyard above any other flag or ensign.
- When hanging the flag vertically, the wider diagonal white stripe should be at the top and the narrower diagonal red stripe should be at the bottom.
- When hanging the flag horizontally, the wider diagonal white stripe should be at the top left corner and the narrower diagonal red stripe should be at the bottom right corner.
- The Union Jack should never be flown upside down, except as a distress signal.
- When the flag is flown at half-mast, it should be hoisted to the top of the flagpole before being lowered to the halfway point.
- The Union Jack should be taken down at sunset, or no later than midnight, unless it is illuminated. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you are displaying the Union Jack with the appropriate respect and decorum.