GovWire

The Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories. It is a symbol of national unity and pride. The first Union Flag was created in 1606 and combined the flags of England and Scotland; the present Union Flag dates from 1801.

There are designated days when the Union Flag must be flown on UK government buildings by command of His Majesty The King. However, UK government buildings are encouraged to fly the Union Flag all year around.

This guidance is aimed at UK government buildings. However, we would encourage local authorities and other local organisations to follow suit where they wish to fly flags.

Flying the Union Flag

Where UK government buildings only have one flagpole, the Union Flag should be flown every day except on certain occasions when you may wish to fly other flags, including but not limited to, the national flags of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom, the Armed Forces Day flag, the Commonwealth flag, county and other local flags, and other flags which may promote civic pride.

DCMS may issue ad-hoc guidance encouraging UK government buildings to fly such flags throughout the year, alongside the Union Flag

Where UK government buildings have more than one flagpole, and two flags are being flown, the Union Flag must always be flown in the superior position which is either:

• the highest flagpole
• the centre flagpole where there is an odd number of poles of the same height, or
• the left centre flagpole viewed from the front of the building, where there is an even number of poles of the same height

In England, it is now possible to fly more than one flag on the same flagpole if there is enough space.* If so, the Union Flag should always fly on top (in the superior position).

UK government building flagpoles should not remain empty the default should be flying the Union Flag if no other flag is being flown.

In Northern Ireland, designated flag flying for Northern Ireland government buildings is governed by legislation rather than this guidance.

Designated days for flying the Union Flag on UK government buildings 2023

• 1 March: St Davids Day (in Wales)
• 13 March: Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March)
• 17 March: St Patricks Day (in Northern Ireland)
• 9 April: His Majestys Wedding Day
• 23 April: St Georges Day (in England)
• 6 May: Coronation Day
• 17 June: Official Birthday of His Majesty The King
• 21 June: Birthday of The Prince of Wales
• 17 July: Birthday of The Queen Consort
• 8 September: His Majestys Accession
• 12 November: Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November)
• 14 November: Birthday of His Majesty The King
• 30 November: St Andrews Day (in Scotland)

Also:

The day of the opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by His Majesty, and the day of the prorogation of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by His Majesty. Flags should be flown on these days even if His Majesty does not perform the ceremony in person. Flags need to be flown in the Greater London area.

Useful resources

The College of Arms, the Crown body with responsibility for flags and other heraldic matters for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has published frequently asked questions relating to the Union Flag.

In England and Wales, flags are treated as advertisements for the purposes of the planning regime, but express advertisement consent is not required to fly the Union flag from a flagpole. The government has published a guide on the planning rules in England on flying types of flag.

In Scotland, flag flying is outside the scope of the advertisement control regime.