Buckingham Palace and other royal buildings’ flags are flying at half-mast: The tradition explained

Yesterday, Buckingham Palace introduced the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. After spending a record-breaking 70 years on the throne, the UK now enters a interval of mourning for Her Majesty.

One of many first issues you will have observed following the announcement is flags on fashionable vacationer points of interest like palaces and royal residences being lowered.

Following the demise of Her Majesty The Queen, the UK authorities issued directions on how flags should now be flown. This steerage has been handed down from King Charles III, the brand new Sovereign.

All official flags together with the Union flag will have to be flown at half-mast as quickly as potential. Solely the Royal Customary will stay in its common place. It’s because there may be at all times a dwelling monarch and the throne has instantly handed to King Charles III.

Half-mast means the flag is flown a 3rd of the best way down the flagpole from the highest. There should be not less than the peak of the flag between the highest of it and the highest of the flag pole.

They’ll keep that approach till 8am on the day following the Queen’s state funeral as an indication of respect.

The UK isn’t the one place honouring the Queen on this vogue both. President of the US Joe Biden has additionally ordered all US flags to be flown at half-mast till the funeral.

They are going to be lowered on all US authorities buildings, embassies and army bases world wide till “sundown on the day of interment”.

Why do flags fly at half mast as an indication of respect?

In lots of international locations world wide, a half-masted flag is seen as a logo of mourning or respect. The custom is believed to have begun within the seventeenth century and a few sources say it’s as a result of the flag is lowered to make room for an invisible flag of demise flying above it.

What half-mast truly means varies relying on the nation. Whereas within the UK, the flag can’t be decrease than two thirds down the pole, others say it ought to be simply the peak of the flag from the highest. Whereas some take it actually to imply half approach down the pole.

There’s a checklist of the explanation why a flag could also be flown at half mast within the UK other than the demise of the Sovereign together with the funerals of members of the royal household, funerals of Prime Ministers, and funerals of overseas rulers – all are on the command of the present Sovereign.

Flags will not simply need to be half-masted following the Queen’s demise, both. Hundreds emblazoned with ‘EIIR’ or The Queen’s colors that fly in every single place from naval ships to exterior of police stations will have to be modified.

Flags are simply one of many many locations the place the Queen’s picture and iconography will have to be unpicked from the material of UK life.