Theory and practice.

[Phil]

I've always wondered at that (hoisting the saltire beneath the Union Jack), given that the entire field of the Union Jack is the saltire of Scotland. I have always assumed it had to do with a reluctance to erect a second flag pole (probably due to costs and planning issues), or ignorance of the fact that in Scotland the saltire may be flown instead of the Union Jack.

I did ask at Stirling Castle why the Union Jack was flying instead of the Saltire but just got a brush-off answer about it coming under the "Crown". If you visit Edinburgh you will see the same at the castle here, for a similar reason. Similarly other buildings, while they may fly a Saltire, always have it below the Union Jack, denoting a subordinate importance for that flag. You can imagine how that goes down here.