Union Jack - Flag Days

Flag Days

United Kingdom

In July 2007, the British prime minister at the time, Gordon Brown, unveiled plans to have the Union Flag flown more often from government buildings. While consultation on new guidelines is under way, the decision to fly the flag may be made by each government department.

Previously the flag was generally only flown on public buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family, the wedding anniversary of the monarch, Commonwealth Day, Accession Day, Coronation Day, the Queen's Official Birthday, Remembrance Sunday and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament. The Union Flag is flown at half mast from the announcement of the death of the Sovereign (save for Proclamation Day), or upon command of the Sovereign.

The current flag days where the Union Flag should be flown from government buildings throughout the UK are:

• 20 January (Birthday of The Countess of Wessex)
• 6 February (Anniversary of the accession of The Queen)
• 19 February (Birthday of The Duke of York)
• Second Monday in March (Commonwealth Day)
• 10 March (Birthday of The Earl of Wessex)
• 21 April (The Queen's Birthday)
• 9 May (Europe Day)
• 2 June (Anniversary of The Queen's coronation)
• 10 June (Birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh)
• June (no fixed date) – The Queen's Official Birthday
• 17 July (Birthday of The Duchess of Cornwall)
• 15 August (Birthday of the The Princess Royal)
• Second Sunday in November (Remembrance Sunday)
• 14 November (Birthday of The Prince of Wales)
• 20 November (Anniversary of the wedding of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh)

In addition, the Union Flag should be flown in the following areas on specified days:

• 1 March (Wales only, for St David's Day)
• 17 March (Northern Ireland only, for St Patrick's Day)
• 23 April (England only, for St George's Day)
• 3 September (Scotland only, for Merchant Navy Day)
• The Day of the Opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament, Greater London only
• The day of the prorogation of a Session of the Houses of Parliament, Greater London only

On 30 November, (St Andrew's Day), the Union Flag can be flown in Scotland only where a building has more than one flagpole—on this day the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole. This difference arose after Members of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day. However, on 23 April, St George's Day, it is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom that is flown over United Kingdom's government offices in England.

Non-government organisations may fly the Union Flag whenever they choose.

Canada

In Canada, the Royal Union Flag is flown from federal buildings, airports, warships, military bases, and other government buildings on the following days:

• Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March)
• Victoria Day—the official birthday of the monarch (the Monday on or preceding 24 May)
• 11 December—the anniversary of the proclamation of the Statute of Westminster 1931

The flag is only flown in addition to the Canadian national flag, where physical arrangements allow (e.g., when there is more than one flag pole).