Why are flags at full mast in the UK?
FLAGS across the country flew at half-mast to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
It's a symbol of respect and unity during a national period of mourning, so when do the flags return to full-mast and why? Here's everything you need to know.
Why are flags at full mast today?
Flags are at full mast today (Tuesday, September 20, 2022) as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II has passed, marking an end to the national period of mourning.
According to the British flag protocol, flags should be flown at half-mast from the announcement of the death until the funeral of the Sovereign.
Since Her Majesty, 96, passed away at Balmoral on September 8, 2022, Union flags and official flags were half-masted at all royal residences.
Other occasions include the death or funerals of members of the Royal Family, the funerals of foreign rulers, or prime ministers and former primer ministers of the UK.
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Will the Buckingham Palace flags return to half mast?
The Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom.
The flag is never flown at half-mast at Buckingham Palace, even after the death of a monarch, as there is always a Sovereign on the throne and it would therefore be inappropriate for it to fly at half-mast.
What does it mean when flags are at full-mast?
Flags are flown at full mast for a brief period during a national mourning period when a new monarch is formally proclaimed.
This happened on September 10, 2022 on the day of the Accession Council when His Majesty The King was formally proclaimed.
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The official website of the Royal Family says: "In recognition of the new Sovereign, flags will be flown at full-mast from the time of the Principal Proclamation at St James's Palace until one hour after the Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, after which flags will return to half-mast in mourning for the death of Her Majesty The Queen."
On Sunday, September 11, 2022, flags were returned once again to fly at half-mast.
Which buildings fly flags at full-mast?
Royal residences such as Windsor Castle, Holyrood House, Clarence House and Highgrove House are now flying their flags at full mast following the end of the national period of mourning.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is in charge of arrangements for lowering flags on government buildings such as 10 Downing Street and the Royal Court of Justice.
What does it mean when flags are at half-mast?
Flying the flags at half- mast means the flag is flown two-thirds of the way up the flagpole.
It is a sign of mourning, respect or distress.
Along with Buckingham Palace, all government buildings in the UK follow the same protocol.
The UK isn’t the only place honouring the Queen in this way, US President Joe Biden ordered all US flags to be flown at half-mast until the Queen's funeral.
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The Union flag was flown at half mast after the deaths of members of the Royal Family, such as Prince Philip in 2021, and at other times of national mourning such as the terrorist bombings in London in 2005, the deaths of former US President Gerald Ford and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The flag has also flown at half-mast after the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019 and the London Bridge stabbing on November that year.
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