Flag Protocol

The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom, including the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. Its design dates back to 1606, originally combining the flags of England and Scotland. The current version was adopted in 1801 following the inclusion of St Patrick’s Cross to represent Ireland. Due to its design, the flag can be mistakenly displayed upside down; care must be taken to ensure correct orientation.

Although there is no formal Flag Act in UK law, the Union Flag is recognised as the national flag by long-established custom and practice.

In March 2021, all councils were requested to fly the Union Flag daily from UK government buildings as a symbol of national identity and unity. Where buildings have multiple flagpoles, the Union Flag must be flown in the superior position, defined as follows:

• The highest flagpole
• The centre flagpole (where there is an odd number of poles of equal height)
• The left-centre flagpole (when viewed from the front of the building, where there is an even number of poles of equal height)

The only exception to this rule is during a Royal visit, when the Royal Standard takes precedence.

The Union Flag must be displayed correctly, in accordance with guidance from the Flag Institute:

The Buckinghamshire County Flag is the traditional and historic emblem of the county. It features a chained swan set against a red and black bicolour background, derived from the arms of Buckinghamshire (see Appendix B).

The swan symbol dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when the county was renowned for breeding swans for the King. Today, the swan remains a prominent emblem across Buckinghamshire, appearing in the arms of several historic towns including Aylesbury, Buckingham, Chesham, Marlow, and High Wycombe.

The flag was officially registered with the Flag Institute on 20 May 2011.