Sure, it made for an iconic moment when Bond parachuted into frame beneath it in The Spy Who Loved Me, but let’s be honest, advertising your national allegiance mid-mission is hardly the move of a stealth operative. It looks brilliant on screen, but tactically it’s a disaster.  That said, symbolic nods to the flag like M’s stoic ceramic bulldog “Jack” perched on her desk are acceptable.

The Union Jack has made other subtle and not-so-subtle appearances throughout Bond’s history.  From the mini-flag decal on Bond’s ski pole in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service to the patriotic flourishes on gadgets and props over the years, the franchise has never shied away from exuding Bond’s sense of duty.  Even in Spectre, one could imagine Q briefly considering slipping a Union Jack motif into the sleek Aston Martin DB10, only to think better of it given the covert Roman backdrop.

In the end, the Union Jack works best in Bond movies when used with restraint, and the ostentatiousness of a Union Jack parachute is doubtful to resurface.