At sea, things are a bit different. The Merchant Shipping Act lays out rules around what type of British ensign - an adaption of the Union flag designed for use on a boat - can be flown.

The Red Ensign flag is flown on British commercial vessels at sea The cargo ship Stena Impero, seized by Iran last week, was sailing under a British flag - but it was owned by a Swedish company ...

Since Confederation, the Canadian national flag had been the British Union Jack - a symbol of Canada's former colonial status. The Red Ensign - a modified version of the flag of the British ...