Flags To Be Flown At Half Mast For Passing Of The Duke of Edinburgh

Flag flying guidance for UK government buildings.

It is with great regret that we note the announcement today, Friday 9 April 2021 from Buckingham Palace of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

All official flags, including the Union Flag, are to be half-masted on all UK government buildings as soon as possible today until 0800 on the day following the Funeral. Flags may be flown overnight during this period but should remain at half-mast.

Any non-official flags currently flying or due to be flown should be taken down and replaced with a Union Flag at half-mast. Other official flags scheduled to be flown should be flown as normal, but at half-mast (see official flags criteria below).

Half-mast means the flag is flown a third of the way down the flagpole from the top, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole. On poles that are more than 45° from the vertical, flags cannot be flown at half-mast and should not be flown at all.

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