Australia mourns the passing of Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.
As a mark of mourning and respect and in accordance with protocol, the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast immediately and until further notice. Vice-Regal Standards are to remain at full-mast.
It is customary to fly the flag at half-mast from the time of announcement of the death of The Sovereign until the day after the funeral, except on the day the accession of the new Sovereign is proclaimed.
- When flying the Australian National Flag with other flags, all flags in the set should be flown at half-mast.
- If a set of flags includes the flags of other nations, it would be appropriate to seek permission from the diplomatic representatives of that nation to half-mast their flag.
- An acceptable half-mast position would be when the top of the flag is a third of the distance down from the top of the flagpole.
- Flags may be flown at half-mast overnight, provided they are illuminated.
- Information on flag protocol is available on the Department's website.
The financial and staffing implications arising from weekend and public holiday flag marshal duties are the responsibility of each organisation.
Further advice will be issued when details of the proclamation and funeral are confirmed.
Commonwealth Flag Officer