DATES AND PROCEDURES FOR FLYING FLAGS
The Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for issuing the rules for hoisting the Union Flag on Government buildings. There are 18 fixed days each year on which the flag should be flown. While there is no formal definition of a Government building for this purpose, it is generally accepted to mean a building owned or used by the Crown and predominately occupied or used by Civil Servants or her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
Individuals, local authorities and other organisations may fly the Union Flag whenever they wish, subject to compliance with any local planning requirement.
19.3. Although these regulations apply to government and other public buildings, there would be no objection, in principle, to a County/District/Branch choosing to fly their Union Flag on some (or all) of the dates listed below.
09 January Birthday of The Duchess of Cambridge
20 January Birthday of The Countess of Wessex
06 February Her Majesty’s Accession
19 February Birthday of the Duke of York
01 March St David’s Day (in Wales only, see note 1))
10 March Birthday of The Earl of Wessex
-- March (Second Monday) Commonwealth Day
17 March St. Patrick’s Day (in Northern Ireland only)
21 April Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen
23 April St George’s Day (in England only, see note 1)
09 May Europe Day (see note 4)
02 June Coronation Day
10 June Birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh
June (First, second or third Saturday) Official Celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday
21 June Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge
17 July Birthday of The Duchess of Cornwall
15 August Birthday of The Princess Royal
-- November (Second Sunday) Remembrance Day (see note 2 )
14 November Birthday of The Prince of Wales
20 November Her Majesty’s Wedding Day
30 November St Andrew’s Day (in Scotland only, see note 1)
- The day of the opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by Her Majesty
- The day of the prorogation of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by Her Majesty
Notes:
1. Where a building has two or more flagstaffs the appropriate National flag may be flown in addition to the Union flag but not in a superior position
2. Flags should be flown at full mast all day
3. Flags should be flown on this day even if Her Majesty does not perform the ceremony in person. Flags should only be flown in the Greater London area
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4. The Union flag should fly alongside the European flag. On Government buildings that only have one flagpole, the Union flag should take precedence
5. If The Queen is to be present in a building, you should get in touch with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Architecture and Historic Environment Division, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH. Telephone
020 7211 2381; facsimile 020 7211 2389
The occasions on which the union flag is to be flown at half mast (half mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flagstaff) are:
From the announcement of the death of The Sovereign, except on Proclamation Day, when they are flown at full mast from 11am to sunset.
The funeral of members of the Royal Family, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case - when received Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
The funerals of foreign Rulers, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case- when received Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
The funerals of Prime Ministers and ex-Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case- when received Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will inform you of any other occasions where Her Majesty has given a special command - when received Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
