What does an upside down union jack mean?

Answer 1

What is really wrong when someone says that the flag is "upside down" is that "the flagpole is on the wrong side". The flagpole should be on the same side as the top left THICK white diagonal stripe. It doesn't matter whether the flagpole is on the left or the right of the flag, as you look at it, as long as the top white diagonal next to the flagpole is the THICK one (as opposed to the thin one).

Regarding the original question, "What does an upside down union jack mean?", I always took it to mean, if flown intentionally upside down, that it was a sign of distress.

Next to the flagpole, reading top to bottom, the top diagonal should be THICK white, red, THIN white

and then the bottom diagonal should be THICK white, red, THIN white.

Answer 2

It depends on the circumstances... Flown upside-down deliberately - indicates a distress signal. However - because of the subtlety of the design - it's often wrongly flown inverted on buildings etc.

Answer 3

When the British Union Flag is flown upside down, it is a distress signal. Unfortunately, and I find this very annoying, not everyone know how to fly the Union Flag correctly. I, personally, would like the Union Flag to be symmetrical , so it didn't matter which way up it was raised. Or, I would like the Welsh Red Dragon to be added in the top left corner - so there is no excuse to fly the Union Flag upside down!