page_title: Union Jack
section_title: Protocol
hierarchical_section_title: Union Jack / Status outside the United Kingdom / Canada / Protocol
caption_attribution_description: Colour party assembles for the parade after the service
context_page_description: The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The flag also has official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is known as the Royal Union Flag. Additionally, it is used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas territories. The Union Flag also appears in the canton of the flags of several nations and territories that are former British possessions or dominions, as well as the state flag of Hawaii. The claim that the term Union Jack properly refers only to naval usage has been disputed, following historical investigations by the Flag Institute in 2013.
  The origins of the earlier flag of Great Britain date back to 1606. James VI of Scotland had inherited the English and Irish thrones in 1603 as James I, thereby uniting the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland in a personal union, although the three kingdoms remained separate states.
context_section_description: The parliamentary resolution passed on 18 December 1964 assigned two purposes for the Union Flag in Canada, as a flag representing the United Kingdom, and as an official ceremonial flag of Canada. When used to represent the United Kingdom, the Union Flag takes precedence before the flag of a Canadian province/territory. However, when the flag is used as a ceremonial flag of Canada, the flag of the Canadian province/territory takes precedence before the Royal Union Flag. 
  The parliamentary resolution requires the Royal Union Flag to be flown alongside the flag of Canada (if there are at least two flag poles available) at federal government buildings, federally-operated airports, military installations, at the masthead of Royal Canadian Navy ships within Canadian waters, and other appropriate establishments on Commonwealth Day, Victoria Day (the monarch's official birthday in Canada), 11 December (the anniversary of the enactment of the Statute of Westminster 1931), and when otherwise instructed to do so by the National Defence Headquarters. The Royal Union Flag may also be formally flown alongside the flag of Canada at federal locations in Canada in relation to ceremonies, anniversaries, and other events relating to the Canadian Armed Forces, or other forces in the Commonwealth.  Formal usage of the Royal Union Flag on federal property is permitted only when two or more flag poles are present, to ensure the flag of Canada is not removed.
caption: The Union Flag has official status in Canada. Seen here next to the flag of Canada during Remembrance Day parade in Stirling, Ontario (2009)
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