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Half-mast orhalf-staff (American English) is the placement of a flag below the summit of a ship mast, a pole on land, or a pole on a building. In many countries this is seen as a symbol ofrespect,mourning,distress, or, in some cases, asalute.[1]
The tradition of flying the flag at half-mast began in the 17th century.[2] According to some sources, the flag is lowered to make room for an "invisible flag of death" flying above.[3] However, there is disagreement about where on a flagpole a flag should be when it is at half-mast. It is often recommended that a flag at half-mast be lowered only as much as the hoist, or width, of the flag.[4][5] British flag protocol is that a flag should be flown no less than two-thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole.[6] It is common for the phrase to be taken literally and for a flag to be flown only halfway up a flagpole,[7] although some authorities deprecate that practice.[5]
When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-mast, it should be raised to thefinial of the pole for an instant, then lowered to half-mast. Likewise, when the flag is lowered at the end of the day, it should be hoisted to the finial for an instant, and then lowered.[7]
Theflag of Australia is flown half-mast in Australia:
In Australia and other Commonwealth countries, merchant ships "dip" their ensigns to half-mast when passing an RAN vessel or a ship from the navy of any allied country.
Theflag of Bangladesh flew at half-mast on theInternational Mother Language Day 21 February, to pay homage to the martyrs of theBengali language movement in 1952, which took place to establishBangla as the state language of the thenEast Pakistan (present-dayBangladesh).
Theflag of Brazil is flown half-mast whennational mourning is declared by the president. This usually happens when a personality dies, or in the occasion of a tragedy.
Similarly, theflag of Sri Lanka is nationally flown at half-mast on a national day of mourning.
Theflag of Cambodia flew at half mast upon the death of King-FatherNorodom Sihanouk for seven days, from 15 to 22 October 2012.
The termhalf-mast is the official term used in Canada, according to the Rules For Half-Masting the National Flag of Canada. The decision to fly the flag at half-mast on federal buildings rests with theDepartment of Canadian Heritage. Federally, thenational flag of Canada is flown at half-mast to mark the following occasions:
| Occasion or date | Protocol or significance |
|---|---|
| The death ofthe sovereign | From the time of notification of death until sunset on the day of the funeral or memorial service, but the flag is flown at full-mast on the day which the accession of the new monarch is proclaimed |
| The death of any member of theroyal family, a former governor general, the sittingchief justice of theSupreme Court, sittingministers of the Crown, or a former prime minister | From the time of notification of death until sunset on the day of the funeral or, if there is to be a memorial service, from the time of notification of death until sunset the following day and from sunrise to sunset on the day of the service |
| The death of apolice officer in the line of duty. | The flag could be flown at half-mast from a couple of days to weeks, depending on the ranking of the officer. |
| 28 April of each year | Marking the Day of Mourning for People Killed or Injured in the Workplace (coinciding with World Day for Safety and Health at Work) |
| 23 June of each year | Marking theNational Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism |
| Last Sunday in September of each year | Marking Police Officer's National Memorial Day |
| 8 November of each year | MarkingNational Aboriginal Veterans Day |
| 11 November of each year | MarkingRemembrance Day |
| 6 December of each year | Marking theNational Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women |
Certain events are also marked by flying the national flag at half-mast on thePeace Tower atParliament Hill. These include:
| Date | Significance |
|---|---|
| 9 April of each year | MarkingVimy Ridge Day |
| Varies | The annual memorial service on Parliament Hill to remember deceased parliamentarians |
On occasion discretion can dictate the flying of the national flag at half-mast, not only on the Peace Tower, but on all federal facilities. Some examples include11 September 2001,11 September 2002, the2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005Mayerthorpe tragedy, thedeath of Pope John Paul II, the2005 London bombings, the death ofSmokey Smith, thestate funerals of formerU.S. presidentsRonald Reagan,Gerald Ford andJimmy Carter, the death ofJack Layton, the2020 Nova Scotia attacks, and the2022 Saskatchewan stabbings.[15][16][17]
There are, however, exceptions to the rules of half-masting in Canada: ifVictoria Day orCanada Day fall during a period of half-masting, the flags are to be returned to full-mast for the duration of the day. The national flag on the Peace Tower is also hoisted to full mast if a foreignhead of state orhead of government is visiting the parliament. These exemptions, though, do not apply to the period of mourning for the death of aCanadian monarch. TheRoyal Standard of Canada also never flies at half-mast, as it is considered representative of the sovereign, who ascends to the throne automatically upon the death of their predecessor. Each province can make its own determination of when to fly the flag at half-mast when provincial leaders or honoured citizens pass away.
To raise a flag in this position, the flag must be flown to the top of the pole first, then brought down halfway before the flag is secured for flying. When such mourning occurs, all flags should be flown at that position or not be flown at all, with the exception of flags permanently attached to poles.[18]
A controversy surfaced in April 2006, when the newly electedConservative government discontinued the practice, initiated by the previousLiberal government following theTarnak Farm incident,[19] of flying the flag at half-mast on all government buildings whenever a Canadian soldier was killed in action inAfghanistan.[20] The issue divided veterans' groups and military families, some of whom supported the return to the original tradition of using Remembrance Day to honour all soldiers killed in action, while others felt it was an appropriate way to honour the fallen and to remind the population of the costs of war.[19] In spite of the federal government's policy, local authorities have often decided to fly the flag at half-mast to honour fallen soldiers who were from their jurisdiction, includingToronto andSaskatchewan.[21]
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TheNational Flag Law provides for a number of situations on which the flag should be flown at half-mast, and authorizes theState Council to make such executive orders:
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InCuba, flags were flown at half-mast in 2013 after the death ofVenezuelan PresidentHugo Chávez,[22] and again after thedeath of Fidel Castro in 2016.
In recent years, the flag of Cuba has also been flown at half-mast by proclamation of thepresident of Cuba following deaths of foreign leaders.
TheDanish flag (Dannebrog) is nationally flown at half-mast in Denmark as a sign of mourning (for instance, upon the death of a current or formermonarch of Denmark or of any member of the Danish royal family). It is performed by raising the flag briefly to the top of the mast and lowering it approximately one-third of the length of the flagpole. This tradition dates back to 1743, when Christian VI ordered in the naval's ceremonial regulations that instead of using black flags with white crosses for mourning, they should use the flag at half-mast as a sign of mourning.[23] This applied also for Norway as both kingdoms were united by that time. Unlike other monarchies, theSovereign can order theDanish Royal Standard to be flown at half-mast.[24]
In Finland, the official term for flying a flag at half-mast is known assuruliputus (mourning by flag(ging)). It is performed by raising the flag briefly to the top of the mast and lowering it approximately one-third of the length of the flagpole, placing the lower hoist corner at half-mast. On wall-mounted and roof-top flagpoles the middle of the flag should fly at the middle of the flagpole. When removing the flag from half-mast, it is briefly hoisted to the finial before lowering.
Traditionally, private residences and apartment houses fly the national flag at half-mast on the day of the death of a resident, when the flag is displayed at half-mast until sunset or 21:00, whichever comes first. Flags are also flown at half-mast on the day of the burial, with the exception that the flag is to be hoisted to the finial after the inhumation takes place.
Flags are also to be flown at half-mast by government agencies and embassies across the world on the days of national mourning, and "the entire nation is asked to join in." Such days are the deaths of former or currentFinnish presidents, as well as significant catastrophic events such as the aftermath of2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami,2011 Norway attacks and significant national events such as the 2004Konginkangas bus disaster and school shootings ofJokela,Kauhajoki, andViertola.
Historically, flags were flown at half-mast on theCommemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers which takes place on the third Sunday of May. Originally, flag was raised to the finial in the morning, displayed at half-mast from 10:00 to 14:00, and again raised to the finial for the rest of the day. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the tradition of flying the flag at half-mast was discontinued and flag is displayed at the finial in a usual manner.
TheFrench flag is flown half mast on any day of mourning by order of the government (for example after theCharlie Hebdo attack on 7 January 2015, theParis attacks on 13 November 2015, and theNice attack on 14 July 2016). Other countries have also flown the French flag at half mast because of this too (e.g. Australia'sSydney Harbour Bridge flew the French flag at half mast following the Paris attacks in November 2015).
Some occurrences of the French flag being flown half mast have been controversial, especially after the death ofPope John Paul II in 2005[25] but also in a lesser measure at the time following the death ofJoseph Stalin in March 1953.[26]
Theflag of Germany and the flags of its federal states are flown at half-mast:
If flags cannot be displayed at half-mast (e.g. vertical banner flags), they should bear black crepe streamers.[27]
One other notable exception to the convention is the flag of unity, in front of theReichstag building. As a national monument symbolisingGerman Unity, it may only ever be flown at full, except in extreme circumstances of national mourning. Since it was first hoisted on the 3rd of October 1990, the flag of unity had been lowered to half-mast on just four occasions:
According to Law 851/1978, the only day specified on which theGreek flag is flown at half-mast isGood Friday. Also, on other national and public mourning days.
Similar rules as in China apply for Hong Kong. (SeeFlag of Hong Kong for details.) Prior to thetransfer of sovereignty in 1997, the rules for flying the flag at half-mast were the same as the British ones.
Theflag of the Republic of China is flown at half-mast on 28 February to mark the anniversary of the28 February incident. On 5 August 2014, Taiwan flew their flag in half-mast for three days to commemorate the victims of theKaohsiung gas explosions andTransAsia Airways Flight 222 crash.[28]
Theflag of India is flown at half-mast for the death of apresident,vice-president, orprime minister, all over India. For the speaker of theLok Sabha and the chief justice of theSupreme Court of India, it is flown inDelhi and for aUnion Cabinet minister it is flown in Delhi and the state capitals, from where the official came. For a minister of state, it is flown only in Delhi. For a governor, lieutenant governor, or chief minister of a state or union territory, it is flown in the concerned state.
If the intimation of the death of any dignitary is received in the afternoon, the flag shall be flown at half-mast on the following day also at the place or places indicated above, provided the funeral has not taken place before sunrise on that day. On the day of the funeral of a dignitary mentioned above, the flag shall be flown at half-mast at the place of the funeral. For example, on 17 March 2019, the government of India declared a national day of mourning on 18 March 2019 due to the death of the chief minister of Goa,Manohar Parrikar, on 17 March 2019. This means that on 18 March 2019, the Indian national flag must be at half-mast in the national capital, that is, New Delhi, and in the capital cities of all the 28 states and Union Territories.
In the event of a halfmast day coinciding with theRepublic Day,Independence Day, National Week (6 to 13 April), any other particular day of national rejoicing as may be specified by thegovernment of India, or, in the case of a state, on the anniversary of formation of that state, flags are not permitted to be flown at half-mast except over the building where the body of the deceased is lying until it has been removed and that flag shall be raised to the full-mast position after the body has been removed.
Observances of state mourning on the death of foreign dignitaries are governed by special instructions issued from theMinistry of Home Affairs (Home Ministry) in individual cases. However, in the event of death of either the head of the state or head of the government of a foreign country, the Indian mission accredited to that country may fly the national flag on the above-mentioned days. India observed a five-day period of national mourning on the death ofNelson Mandela in 2013.[29] India also declared 29 March 2015 as a day of national mourning as a mark of respect to the former prime minister of Singapore,Lee Kuan Yew. In February 2022, India observed two days of national mourning in memory ofplayback singerLata Mangeshkar, who died on 6 February 2022.[30] After the assassination of former Japanese prime ministerShinzo Abe and the death ofQueen Elizabeth II of the UK, the Union Government of India ordered one-day national mourning on 9 July 2022 and 11 September 2022, respectively.[31][32]
Theflag of Indonesia is flown half-mast for:
The national flag of Indonesia may also be flown at half-mast on:
Theflag of Iran is flown at half-mast on the death of a national figure or mourning days.
On 10 January 2017, the flag was flown at half-mast following the death of AyatollahAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,[37] and again eleven days later following thePlasco Building collapse in Tehran.[38]
Theflag of Ireland is flown at half-mast on the death of a national or international figure, including former and currentpresidents orTaoiseach, on all prominent government buildings equipped with a flag pole. The death of a prominent local figure can also be marked locally by the flag being flown at half-mast. When the national flag is flown at half mast, no other flag should be half-masted. When a balcony inBerkeley, California, collapsed, killing six Irish people, flags were flown at half mast above all state buildings.[clarification needed]
In 2016, to commemorate thecentenary of the Easter Rising, the Irish national flag over theGeneral Post Office in Dublin was lowered to half mast. On Easter Monday 1916, as the rising began,Patrick Pearse stood outside the Post Office and read theProclamation of the Irish Republic.
Theflag of Israel is flown at half-mast onYom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day),[39]Yom HaZikaron (Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day),[40] and other national days of mourning.
Theflag of Italy was flown at half-mast after the2013 Sardinia floods on 22 November 2013.
Theflag of Japan is flown at half-mast upon the death of theemperor of Japan,[41] other members of theimperial family, or a current or formerprime minister, and also following national disasters such as the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. In addition to the tradition of half-staff, the national flag may be flown topped by a black cloth to designate mourning.[42]
Theflag of Jamaica is flown as a sign of official mourning when declared so by thePrime Minister.
For example, on December 2, 2016, the flag was flown half-mast in respect of the late formerCuban PresidentFidel Castro.[43][44] Following the death ofVenezuelan PresidentHugo Chávez, the flag was flown at half-mast.[45] Following the death of Jamaica'shead of state,Queen Elizabeth, the flag was flown half-mast.
Theflag of Malaysia (Malay:Jalur Gemilang) is flown at half-mast nationally:
On 8 March 2014, As a mark of respect to the passengers and crew who were on boardMalaysia Airlines Flight 370 and their family members, some states had their states flag flown at half-mast.[46]
Similarly on 17 July 2014, As a mark of respect to the passengers and crew who were on boardMalaysia Airlines Flight 17 and their family members, the national flag was flown at half-mast for three days and also on the national day of mourning on 22 August 2014.[47]
On 8 September 2022, whenQueen Elizabeth II passed away, theSelangor government ordered the Selangor flag to be flown half-mast from 17 to 19 September.
The2015 Sabah earthquake had a mourning day and the flag half-mast on 8 June 2015.
The Burmese flag is ceremonially flown at half-mast at theMartyrs' Mausoleum, located inYangon, every year on July 19. This day is observed asMartyrs' Day, a significant national event that commemorates the assassination ofAung San, the revolutionary founding father of modern Myanmar and father ofAung San Suu Kyi, aNobel Peace Prize winner, along with several of his key ministers and advisory commissioners in 1947.
The flag being flown at half-mast serves as a symbol of national mourning and respect for those who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence and sovereignty. Various ceremonies and tributes are held across the nation, emphasizing the importance of Aung San's legacy and the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.[48][49]
On 28 March 2025, The2025 Myanmar earthquake had a mourning day and the flag at half-mast on 31 March 2025.
Theflag of the Netherlands is nationally flown at half-mast:
Theroyal standard and other flags of the Dutch royal family are never flown at half-mast. Instead, a blackpennon may be affixed to the flag in times of mourning.[51][52]
For both government and public buildings, theflag of New Zealand is flown at half-mast for the following people:[53]
In addition, it can also be flown at half-mast at the request of the minister for arts, culture and heritage. Examples of this are for the deaths of prominent New Zealanders (e.g.Sir Edmund Hillary;[54] Māori monarchsTe Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu andKīngi Tūheitia[55][56]), and for national tragedies (e.g. thePike River Mine disaster).
According to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the position is always referred to as half-mast. The flag should be at least its own height from the top of the flagpole, though the actual position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole.[53]
Theflag of Northern Cyprus is routinely flown at half-mast throughout the country every 10 November in memory ofMustafa Kemal Atatürk, founding father of theRepublic of Turkey who died on 10 November 1938. At other times, the premiership may issue an order for the flag to be flown at half-mast.[57] Historical dates of half-mast in Northern Cyprus include:
On days designated as official days of mourning the state flag is to be flown at half staff by state and government agencies. There are no permanent days of mourning and this provision only comes into use upon the death of a member of the Royal House or as designated by the Government. Upon the death of a member of the Royal House the flag is to be displayed at half staff each day from the announcement of death until the end of the burial. If the burial service of a non-royal person connected to an individual public institution occurs on a flag flying day the flag flown by that institution is lowered to half staff until the burial service is over.[65] One such example of a designated official day of mourning was during the immediate aftermath of the2011 Norway attacks, in which flags all around Norway were half-staffed as a symbol of mourning for the victims.
Theflag of Pakistan is routinely flown at half-mast on following days:
Any other day notified by the government. For example, on the death of Saudi kingKing Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, the flag was flown at half-mast for seven days (theflag of Saudi Arabia was not at half-mast because the flag contains theShahada). Upon theassassination of Benazir Bhutto, the flag was ordered to be flown at half-mast for three days.[citation needed] On the death ofSyedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the flag was ordered by Sindh Chief Minister Qasim Ali Shah to be flown at half-mast for two days (17 and 18 January) to express solidarity with the bereaved community. In 2014, the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced a three-day mourning period from 16 December, including flying the flag at half-mast nationwide and at all embassies and high commissions of Pakistan, for the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.[66]
On 2 September 2021, theprime minister of Pakistan,Imran Khan, ordered that the flag be flown at half mast to mourn the death of Kashmiri separatist leaderSyed Ali Shah Geelani[67]
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Theflag of the Philippines may be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.[68] Upon the official announcement of the death of thepresident or a former president, the flag should be flown at half-mast for ten days. The flag should be flown at half-mast for seven days following the death of thevice president,the chief justice,the president of the Senate orthe speaker of the House of Representatives.[69]
As per Republic Act No. 229, flags nationwide are flown at half-mast everyRizal Day on 30 December to commemorate the death of national heroJosé Rizal.[70]
When flown at half-mast, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak for a moment then lowered to the half-mast position. It should be raised to the peak again before it is lowered for the day.[69][71]
The flag may also be used to cover the caskets of the dead of the military, veterans of previous wars, national artists, and outstanding civilians as determined by the local government. In such cases, the flag must be placed such that the white triangle is at the head and the blue portion covers the right side of the casket. The flag should not be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground, but should be solemnly folded and handed to the heirs of the deceased.[69]
Flags must also be raised to half-mast immediately in any area recovering fromnatural disasters such as atyphoon or anearthquake.[citation needed]
In the aftermath of theMamasapano clash in which 44 members of theSpecial Action Force were killed, January 30, 2015, was declared anational day of mourning, and as such, all public institutions and military installations were instructed to lower the Philippine flag to half-mast.[71]
On June 24, 2021, in several areas in the country, the flag of the Philippines was at half-mast as a sign of mourning for the 15th Philippine president,Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.[72] Aquino's former communications secretary,Manolo Quezon, noted that some flags have been lowered to half-mast before his family confirmed the former president's death.[73]
According to article 11 of the Coat of Arms Act, theflag of Poland may be flown at half-mast as a sign of national mourning declared by thepresident.[74]
Theflag of Russia is flown at half-mast and (or) topped by black ribbon:
All regional flags and departmental ensigns are flown at half-mast on national or regional mourning days alongside the national flag. Firms and non-governmental organizations, embassies and representatives of international organizations often join mourning. National or regional mourning usually lasts for one day.
Theflag of Saudi Arabia is never flown at half-mast because it bears theShahada.[103] It is one of the four such flags in the world which are not given this treatment, the other three beingAfghanistan andSomaliland, which also display theShahada, andIraq, which bears theTakbir. Since all four bear the concept of the unique right of Allah to be worshipped alone, the flags are never lowered to half-mast even as a sign of mourning.[citation needed]
Theflag of Singapore is flown at half-mast in Singapore following the deaths of an "important personage"[104] (such as state leaders) and during periods of national mourning. Examples include:
Theflag of South Africa is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning when ordered by thepresident of South Africa. Upon the official announcement of the death of the current or former president, the flag should be flown at half-mast for ten days. The flag should be flown at half-mast for seven days following the death of the deputy president, the chairperson of theNational Council of Provinces, the speaker of the National Assembly or the chief justice.[108] For example, the flag was flown at half-mast from 6 to 15 December 2013 during thenational mourning period for Nelson Mandela.[109]
The flag was flown at half-mast during the week of national mourning following theMarikana massacre in August 2012.[110]
Theflag of South Korea (Taegeukgi) is flown at half-mast onHyeonchungil (Korean Memorial Day) and on days astate funeral is held.
In 2022, the Taegeukgi was half-masted to mourn the victims of theSeoul Halloween crowd crush.
In 2024, it was half-masted after the fatal crash ofJeju Air Flight 2216, which killed 179 people.[111]
Theflag of Sweden is nationally flown at half-mast in Sweden. Examples include:
Other historical examples of the flag being flown at half-mast include:
Theflag of Thailand was flown at half-mast for 15 days to mourn for the victims of2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
The flag of Thailand was flown at half-mast from 2 to 15 January 2008 on the death of PrincessGalyani Vadhana, the Princess of Naradhiwas.
The flag of Thailand was flown at half-mast for 30 days; from 14 October to 13 November 2016 following the death of KingBhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).
Also from 25 October to 24 November 2025, the flag of Thailand will be flown at half-mast for 30 days following the death of QueenSirikit.[118]
Theflag of Turkey is flown at half-mast throughout Turkey every 10 November, between 09:05 and the sunset, in memory ofMustafa Kemal Atatürk, who died on 10 November 1938 at five past nine in the morning. At other times, the government may issue an order for the national flag to be flown at half-mast upon the death of principal figures of the Turkish political life as a mark of respect to their memory (such asTurgut Özal).[119] When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools and military bases are to fly their flags at half-mast.
To show the sympathy of Turkish people to a foreign leader, such as after the deaths ofYasser Arafat orPope John Paul II, flags are also flown at half-mast by governmental order.[120][121] The flag at the Grand National Assembly in Ankara is never lowered to half-mast, regardless of the occasion.[122] The flag at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkey, is only lowered to half-mast on 10 November.[122] At those times when the flag is to be flown at half-mast, it must first be raised to full height, then lowered to half-mast.
The flag of the United Arab Emirates is flown at half mast on 30 November (Martyrs' Day) of every year from 08:00 to 11:30. The flag is also flown at half mast by decree of thepresident of the United Arab Emirates usually for three days. Each of the seven emirs has the right to order flags to be flown at half mast in his emirate.
TheRoyal Standard, the flag of the British monarch, is never flown at half-mast, because there isalways a sovereign on the throne.[123] It flew at half-mast for several hours from the death ofEdward VII untilGeorge V discovered the error.[124]
There was some controversy in the United Kingdom in 1997 following thedeath of Diana, Princess of Wales, over the fact that no flag was flown at half-mast atBuckingham Palace. Customarily the only flag to fly from Buckingham Palace had been the Royal Standard when the sovereign was in residence at the palace; otherwise, no flag would fly. In response to public outcry,[125]Queen Elizabeth II ordered a break with protocol, replacing the Royal Standard with theUnion Flag at half mast as soon as she left the palace to attendthe princess's funeral atWestminster Abbey. The Royal Standard was again flown (at full hoist) on her return to the palace. Since then, the Union Flag flies from the palace when the monarch is not in residence, and has flown at half mast upon the deaths of members of the royal family, such asPrincess Margaret and theQueen Mother in 2002,Prince Philip in 2021 andQueen Elizabeth II in 2022, and at other times of national mourning such as following theterrorist bombings in London on 7 July 2005, and upon the death of the former prime ministerMargaret Thatcher in 2013.
In the United Kingdom, the correct way to fly the flag at half-mast is two-thirds between the bottom and top of the flagstaff, with at least the width of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole according to theDepartment of Culture, Media and Sport, which decides the flying, on command of the sovereign. The flag may be flown on a government building at half-mast on the following days:
On a wall-mounted flagpole that is angled at 45° or more from vertical, flags should not be flown at half mast; a flag should either be removed entirely or a black ribbon, known as a mourning cravat, should be attached to the top of the flag.
According to theDepartment of Culture, Media and Sport, the correct term ishalf mast.[126]
If a flag-flying day coincides with a day of half-mast flying (including that for the death of a member of the royal family), the flag is flown at full-mast unless a specific command is received from the sovereign.
If more than one flag is flown on a half-mast day, they must all be flown at half-mast, or not flown at all. The flag of a foreign nation must never be flown at half-mast on UK soil unless that country has declared mourning.[127]
On 8 September 2022,Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 while atBalmoral Castle in Scotland.[128] In accordance with the protocol implemented after thedeath ofDiana, Princess of Wales, theUnion Flag atBuckingham Palace was lowered to half mast.[129]
At theUnited Nations offices in New York and Geneva, theflag of the United Nations flies at half-mast on the day after the death of a head of state or a head of government of a member state, but generally not during the funeral.[130] Other occasions are at the secretary-general's discretion. Other offices may follow local practice. To honor the memory ofDag Hammarskjöld the UN issuedpostage stamps showing its flag at half-mast.
In the United States, the usual government term for non-nautical use ishalf-staff. While the termhalf-mast is commonly used in place ofhalf-staff, U.S. law and post-WW-I military tradition indicate thathalf-mast is reserved to usage aboard a ship, where flags are typically flown frommasts, and at naval ships ashore.[131][132]
In the United States, the president can issue anexecutive order for theflag of the United States to be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and others, as a mark of respect to their memory. When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools, and military bases are to fly their flags at half-staff. Under theUnited States Flag Code, the flags of states, cities, localities, and pennants of societies should not be placed above the flag of the United States; therefore, all other flags also fly at half-staff when the U.S. flag has been ordered to fly at half-staff.[133] However, this law is only advisory and cannot be enforced.[134]
Under the Flag Code and established traditions by presidential proclamations, the flag of the United States is to be flown at half-staff on rare occasions, in the following circumstances:[135]
Federal law includes a congressional request that the flag be flown at half-staff onPeace Officers Memorial Day (15 May) unless that day is alsoArmed Forces Day,[135] and at the time of theNational Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.[141] Presidential proclamations also call for the flag to be flown at half-staff onPearl Harbor Remembrance Day (7 December).[142]
State and territorial governors may also issue half-staff orders.[137]
In addition to lowering the flag to half mast, the flag must also have a black mourning band one-tenth the width of the flag, length equal to flag length with a small black strip of cloth tied across it to keep the flag from flying.[143]
Theflag of Zimbabwe is flown at half-mast at the conferment of National Hero Status to the deceased.
