His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: it was announced on 9 April 2021 that His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had died that day at Windsor. His Royal Highness’s funeral took place in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on 17 April. At the close of the service Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms, proclaimed as follows:

Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto His Divine Mercy the late Most High, Mighty and Illustrious Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, One of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal in the Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Husband of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, whom may God Preserve and Bless with long life, health and honour and all worldly happiness.

Phillip O’Shea, New Zealand Herald Extraordinary, proclaimed His Royal Highness’s New Zealand styles and titles at the State Memorial Service held at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on 21 April.

Following the death of John Magufuli, President of Tanzania, special instructions have been received that as a mark of respect, UK Government Buildings should lower their Union Flags to half-mast today Thursday 18 March 2021 until until 2000 hours this evening. 

Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast. If a flag of a foreign nation is normally flown on the same stand as the Union Flag, it should be removed.

Local authorities are not bound by this request but may wish to follow it for guidance. Devolved administrations are responsible for issuing instructions for the flying of the Union Flag on buildings in their estate and others as necessary. Enquiries regarding the correct protocols for the flying of Union and other flags should be addressed to the Officer in Waiting at the College of Arms in the first instance.

Register to receive up-to-date advice from the College of Arms on official flag-flying days, instructions for flying flags at half-mast, and other relevant information, here.