On this page you will find information about:
- Protocol for flying the Union Flag on Royal British Legion (RBL) Properties.
- When and how the Union Jack should be flown.
- The rainbow flag and what it represents.
Flying the Union Flag or the flag of any other nation can be a way of expressing joy and pride. Flags are emotive symbols which can boost local and national identities, strengthen community cohesion and mark civic pride.
The Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for issuing the rules for hoisting the Union Flag on government buildings. Individuals, local authorities, and other organisations may fly the Union Flag whenever they wish, subject to compliance with any local planning requirement. RBL branches are encouraged to use the following guidelines when flying the Union Flag.
▌Check Union Flag flying guidance on GOV.UK.
There are designated days each year when the Union Flag should be flown on all UK Government buildings. 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 His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
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, or all year round.
Fixed days
1st March | St David’s Day (in Wales only, guidance note 1) |
13th March | Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March) |
17th March | St. Patrick’s Day (in Northern Ireland only) |
9th April | His Majesty’s Wedding Day |
23rd April | St George’s Day (in England only, guidance note 1) |
6th May | Coronation Day |
17th June | Official Birthday of His Majesty The King |
21st June | Birthday of The Prince of Wales |
17th July | Birthday of The Queen Consort |
8th September | His Majesty’s Accession |
12th November | Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November) |
14th November | Birthday of His Majesty The King |
30th November | St Andrew’s Day (in Scotland only, guidance note 1) |
Non-fixed days
March (second Monday) | Commonwealth Day |
June (first, second or third Saturday) | Official Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday |
November (second Sunday) | Remembrance Day |
To be determined | The day of the opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by His Majesty (guidance note 3) |
To be determined | The day of the prorogation of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by His Majesty (guidance note 3) |
The department of culture media and sports provides guidance to government buildings which may also be followed by RBL branches:
- 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.
- Flags are flown at full mast all day.
- Flags are flown on this day even if his majesty does not perform the ceremony in person. Flags are only flown in the greater London area.
- The Union flag is flown alongside the European flag. On government buildings that only have one flagpole the Union flag takes precedence.
- If the King is to be present in a building, you must contact the department for culture, Media and sport, architecture and historic environment division, 100 parliament street, London SW1A 2BQ. Telephone 020 7211 6000; facsimile 020 7211 6210
The occasions on which the Union Flag is to be flown at half-mast (half-mast means the flag is raised to the top and then lowered to be 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 His Majesty in each case – when received Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
- The funerals of foreign rulers, subject to special commands from His 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 His 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 His Majesty has given a special command – when received, Head Office will inform Counties/Districts.
The Rainbow Flag is a well-established symbol of support for the LGBTQIA+ community and many local authorities and civic groups will choose to fly the Rainbow Flag to mark Pride weeks and on other occasions to show solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. The RBL fully supports member and branch support for, and participation in, national and local Pride events and this includes the flying of the Rainbow Flag according to the protocols.
▌Read more about information and support for the LGBTQ+ Armed Forces community.
▌Learn more about community networks for members of the LGBTQ+ Armed Froces community.
Any further instructions on the flying of flags is issued by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). Flag flying guidance is published on the GOV.UK website.
