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Flag Etiquette
There are no standardised international regulations governing flag etiquette. Some
of the general guidelines used in flag flying are detailed below:
General
Display the flag only between sunrise and sunset.
It is not good practice
to fly two flags on a single flagpole. This
signifies that the top flag has captured the lower flag.
Flag Precedence
The national flag should not be displayed in a position inferior to
any other flag. It must be flown on the senior flagpole.
Where two
or more flagpoles are present the senior flagpole is either the highest
or, as the observer you are viewing the flagpoles with the building behind
them, the flagpole on the left hand side.
When flying the Union flag with
other national flags the Union flag occupies the senior flagpole and
all others should be flown on individual poles of equal height and in
alphabetical order.
A guide to the order of precedence of more than one flag in the UK
is as follows:
(1) Union Flag
(2) Any other national flag
(3) Flag of Europe
(4) Flag of England / Scotland / Wales
(5) Regional / city / county flag
(6) Corporate / house / club / school / organisation flag
Half Mast
When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-staff, it should
be hoisted to full staff for an instant, then lowered to half-staff.
Likewise when it is lowered at the end of the day, it is to be hoisted
to full staff for an instant, and then lowered.
In the UK, the correct
way to fly the flag at half mast is two-thirds between the top and
bottom of the flagstaff, according to the Department of Culture, Media
and Sport, which decides the flying, on command of the Sovereign. The
flag may be flown on a government building at half mast on the following
days:
- From the announcement of the death up to the funeral of the
Sovereign, except on Proclamation Day when flags are hoisted
to full staff, from 11am until sunset.
- The funerals of members of the royal family, upon command of
the Sovereign.
- The funerals of foreign rulers, upon command of the Sovereign.
- The funerals of prime ministers and ex-prime ministers of the
UK, upon command of the Sovereign.
- Other occasions, by special command of the Sovereign.
- If a flag flying day coincides with a half-mast flag flying
day (including the death of a royal), the flag is flown at full
mast unless a specific command is received from the Sovereign.
If more than one flag is flown on a half mast day, they must be all
be flown at half staff, or not at all. The flag of a foreign nation
must never be flown at half mast on UK soil unless that country has
declared mourning.
A flag used as a coffin drape should be placed so that
the hoist is at the head and the top edge of the flag runs down the
side of the left shoulder.
To find out more information regarding flag
etiquette go to www.flaginstitute.org
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