FLAGS R US
Union Jacks EVERYWHERE – Who’s Still Flying the Flag?
Hey everyone,
I do hope you’re all doing well and not buried under a pile of e-learning modules or lost in a sea of xenophobic diatribes about the British Culture under threat.
This week’s unnecessarily enthusiastic update from Flags R Us dives into the exciting (read: borderline obsessive) world of flags that still feature the Union Jack — even when you’d least expect it.
British Overseas Territories: The Union Jack’s Holiday Homes
Yes, the British Empire is largely, (OK definitely) a thing of the past, but the flag refuses to leave the group chat.
There are 13 modern-day overseas territories where the Union Flag proudly claims squatters’ rights in the top-left corner:
• Anguilla
• Bermuda (Red Ensign, because they’re rebels)
• British Antarctic Territory (penguin-approved)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (stripy sea snakes!)
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands (Hi Argentina 👀)
• Gibraltar
• Montserrat
• Pitcairn Islands (pop: probably less than this email’s CC list)
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (not edible)
• Turks and Caicos Islands
Most of these use what’s called a Blue Ensign, which is basically:
Blue background
Union Flag in the corner
Local badge awkwardly stuck in the middle
Because nothing says “colonial admin chic” like heraldry and navy blue.
Former Colonies: Thanks for All the Flags
Before countries got their own branding consultants, they just slapped the Union Jack on everything. Here are some past examples of design by imperial decree:
• Canada – Rocked the Red Ensign until 1965, then went full maple syrup 🍁
• South Africa – Had the Union Jack plus two other flags, because one colonial power wasn’t enough
• Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) – Union Jack until 1965, then things got… complicated
• Hong Kong – Flying the Blue Ensign until the 1997 handover (insert ominous gong sound)
• Barbados, Malta, Kenya, Jamaica, Nigeria – All went through a phase of “Union Flag in the canton” before finding themselves and choosing independence (and better design)
Bonus Round: Subnational & Rogue Flags
Flags you didn’t ask for, but we’re telling you about anyway:
• Australia & New Zealand – Both still rock the Union Jack like it’s 1901. All six Aussie states also proudly cling on. It’s their whole personality.
• Hawaii – Yes, the U.S. state. Still has the Union Flag in the corner because King Kamehameha was apparently vibing with British naval officers in the 1790s.
• Newfoundland (pre-1949) – Once flying flags with more Union Jack than you can shake a cod at.
• Naval Ensigns – Red = civilian, Blue = government, White = Royal Navy. There’s a quiz coming. (No, there isn’t.)
Summary
• 🇬🇧 Union Jack: Still getting gigs
• 🏝 British Territories: Keeping things very Blue Ensign™
• 🌍 Former Colonies: Moved on, but not without leaving some wild flags in the archives
• 🧭 Hawaii: Still waving like it’s 1799
• ⚓ Ensigns: Colour-coded colonial cosplay
Anyway, if you’ve made it this far, congratulations — you’re officially a vexillophile. (That’s someone who loves flags, not a Marvel villain.)
Questions? Comments? Want to start a petition to redesign Bermuda’s flag? I’m here for it.
Yours in unnecessary flag knowledge,
Senior Union Flag Spotter | Flags R Us Dept.
Working from somewhere not yet technically a British Overseas Territory
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