the tradition of flying flags at half mast came from the 17th century.
the tradition of flying flags at half mast came from the 17th century.
where did the tradition of flying flags at half mast come from?
17th century
historically, flags originate as military standards, used as field signs. the practice of flying flags indicating the country of origin outside of the context of warfare became common with the maritime flag, introduced during the age of sail, in the early 17th century. the origins of the union jack flag date back to 1603, when james vi of scotland inherited the english and irish thrones (as james i), thereby uniting the crowns of england, scotland and ireland in a personal union (which remained separate states). on 12 april 1606, a new flag to represent this regal union between england and scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of england (a red cross on a white background, known as st george's cross), and the flag of scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the saltire or st andrew's cross), would be joined together, forming the flag of great britain and first union flag.
national flag
this tradition changed in 1997, following the death of diana, princess of wales, when the tabloid press reported alleged public outrage because the palace did not fly a flag at half mast. the queen was at balmoral castle at the time, so there was no flag flying. in response to this display of public opinion, the queen ordered a break with protocol and the union flag was flown at half mast over the palace on the day of diana's funeral. since diana's death, the union flag flies from the palace when the queen is not in residence, and has flown at half mast upon the deaths of members of the royal family, and other times of national mourning such as following the terrorist bombings in london in 2005, the deaths of gerald ford and margaret thatcher, and the terrorist attacks in christchurch in 2019.
flags at buckingham palace