Union Flag Shown Upside Down

[denis567]

Did you notice that on 'Bargain Hunt' today, there was a Union flag behind the auctioneer. It was shown upside down.
Some people might say it does not matter which way the Union flag is shown, but to my mind it does matter. Looking on Google there are a few examples as to why it is wrong.
a) it is taken as an insult to the Crown.
b) theoretically it is illegal
c) it should only be flown upside down as a sign of distress.
What made matters worse was that this flag on 'Bargain Hunt' was a commercially made flag, so obviously the manufacturer doesn't know it is wrong, and there are probably thousands on the market.

[jno]

this was probably made for screening in Australia

[Canary42]

It's now a very common sight in this country. And if you try to tell the perpetrators some of them get quite lippy. Good old dumbed-down Britain. The anti-pedants rule OK.

[DTCwordfan]

Speak to AOG will you, dennis - and do him for treason if possible.......it's his waistcoat

[DTCwordfan]

it's not on show at the moment, but wait!!!!

[zebo]

I once told a hotel in the US that they had our flag upside down, they were apologetic and fascinated by what is the right way. They took it down and rehung it, good on them.

[joeluke]

It does not matter which way the Union flag is shown

In the grand scheme of things, who cares?

Trivial

[zebo]

So you would fly the Stars and Stripes upside down then if it doesn't matter?

[denis567]

joeluke - of course it matters - just imagine the uproar if we were to fly the Stars and Stripes upside down or the French Tricolour

[joeluke]

Denis.......if you are so bothered by something so trivial as an upside down flag what are you like when you actually have something serious to worry about?

[flump1]

Now , bear with me, I can't tell, so can somebody please post a link to a site that shows both the wrong and correct way to fly the union jack?

[DTCwordfan]

because it is a recognised distress sign, joeluke...

[jno]

here, flump1

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/geography/unionjack7.html

[DTCwordfan]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianeditors/2009/04/union%20jack%20example%2002.jpg

one on the left is correct.

[denis567]

flump1.
Just Google 'why is it wrong to fly the Union flag upside down' and there are loads of sites that will tell you what to look for.

[flump1]

jno, thank you for that, I understand now !!!

[woofgang]

Its actually NOT a recognised distress signal because from a distance, its not easy to tell the difference.

[flump1]

Thanks DT, and Denis, I have learned something today.

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135545/Embarrassment-No10-Union-Jack-flies-upside-down.html

it is "traditional" if we want to split hairs.

[jno]

so I guess it's an unrecognised distress signal, woofgang? I can imagine other vessels sailing past a sinking British ship, peering at its flag and saying "Well, it looks all right to me."