D.C. preparation for King Charles visit goes Down Under with Australian flag error
Several Australian flags were briefly displayed by mistake among more than 230 flags before workers replaced them with British flags, officials said.
- On Thursday, April 30, 2026, a military entourage displayed the United Kingdom's Union Jack upside down during King Charles III and Queen Camilla's wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
- The flag's asymmetrical appearance results from a historic design technique called "counterchanging"; according to Britain's Flag Institute, the banner is upside down if the wider diagonal white stripe is not above the red, signifying a "signal of distress."
- Sky News correspondent Mark Stone noted the error on X, calling it "a diplomatic gaff" and "a really embarrassing protocol failure," while observers noted that flying the flag in this orientation is considered "lese Majeste," or insulting the Crown.
- This incident follows an earlier mix-up where 15 Australian flags were displayed on Washington, D.C. light posts instead of British banners, which a transportation official confirmed occurred because flags were placed in the wrong storage box.
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla have not publicly commented on the blunder, which occurred on the final day of their four-day state visit, as the King subsequently departed the United States for Bermuda to continue his royal duties.
46 Articles
46 Articles
'Diplomatic gaffe': Union Jack flag was upside down during royal visit
A military entourage for King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit April 30 to Arlington National Cemetery carried the United Kingdom's national flag upside down, setting off pithy remarks in the British press.
Flag blunder spotted as King Charles attends US military ceremony
The world spotted a major blunder as King Charles attended an important military ceremony in the United States.The King along with Queen Camilla attended a wreath-laying tribute at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia when the error was spotted.
King Charles' US state visit marred by Union flag 'gaffe' at Arlington
King Charles and Queen Camilla were attending a wreath-laying tribute at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia when the blunder was spotted – a Union flag displayed upside down during the solemn military ceremony
King Charles US state visit major mishap as huge gaffe spotted by viewers
King Charles' US state visit ended in bizarre fashion as the Union Flag was flown upside down during the farewell event. Sky News US correspondent Mark Stone, posting on X, said: "Rather a diplomatic gaff by the Americans here. The Union flag is upside down at the Arlington Cemetery event."
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