Events at the Abbey

Abbey Flag days

West towers

The two magnificent west towers, above the Great West Door, were the last major construction work to be carried out on the Abbey, constructed from Portland stone between 1722 and 1745 to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor. On top of the north tower sits a flag pole on which the Abbey flies flags—of the Commonwealth Nations, the Flag of St Peter, the Abbey Flag, the Union Flag, the Flags of the National Saints, the Royal Air Force Flag, and the Royal Standard.

The Flag of St PeterThe Flag of St Peter—red with a pair of Golden Cross Keys, together with the Ring of St Edward the Confessor.  This flag combines the symbols of the two Patron Saints of the Abbey: the ring of St Edward the Confessor, king of England 1043–1066 and founder of the Abbey in 1065; and the keys of St Peter, keeper of the keys to the kingdom of heaven, after whom the Abbey was named when it was re-founded as a Collegiate Church in 1579.  It is flown on most Church Festivals, such as the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christmas Day.

The Abbey FlagThe Abbey Flag—this bears the coat of arms of Westminster Abbey, and is flown on all occasions of local importance and significance. The Sovereign being the Visitor of the Collegiate Church, this Flag is always flown on Accession Day, Coronation Day, the Sovereign’s Official Birthday, the Birthdays of the Royal Family and the Wedding Day of the Sovereign.

The Union Flag is flown on Remembrance Sunday.The Flags of the National Saints—George, Andrew, and Patrick, are flown on their respective days.

The Welsh Dragon Flag is flown on St David’s Day.The Royal Air Force Flag is flown on the Commemoration of the Battle of Britain.

The Royal Standard is flown whenever the Sovereign is within the Abbey or its Precincts.  It is also flown whenever the Sovereign opens Parliament, a privilege granted by King Edward VII.

Flag list 2012

Notes

  1. i. A Commonwealth Flag is only flown is the High Commissioner, Honorary Consul or a representative attends Evensong and is to be flown on the day they attend.
  2. ii. The Royal Standard is to be flown when The Sovereign is in the Precincts or at the State Opening of Parliament
  3. iii. The Abbey Flag is to be flown during a State Visit on the day when the Head of State visits the Grave of The Unknown Warrior.
  4. iv. One the eve of a festival ** the relevant flag should be raised before Evensong and remain until sunset on the day of the festival.
DATE OCCASION
FLAG
 January 2
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
St Peter
 January 5
Death of Edward the Confessor
Abbey
 January 6
The Epiphany
St Peter
 January 9
Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge 
Abbey
 January 15
Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I
Abbey
 January 20
Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex
Abbey
 January 24**
Eve of Conversion of St Paul
St Peter
 January 25
Conversion of St Paul
St Peter
 February 1**
Eve of Presentation of Christ in the Temple
St Peter
 February 2
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
St Peter
 February 6
The Queen's Accession Day [1952]
Abbey
 February 19
Birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of York
Abbey
 February 22
Ash Wednesday
St Peter
 March 1
St David's Day
Red Dragon
 March 10
Birthday of His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex
Abbey
 March 12
Commonwealth Day
Abbey and R Standard
 March 17
St Patrick's Day
St Patrick
 March 25**
Eve of The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter
 March 26
The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter
 2 - 7
Note - no flags in Holy Week
none
 April 7**
Easter Eve
St Peter
 April 8
Easter Day
St Peter
 9 - 15
Easter Week
St Peter
 April 9
Dedication of St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey. 1523
St Peter
 April 21
Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Abbey
 April 25
Anzac Day
Abbey
 May 2
St George's Day
St George
 May 3
St Mark's Day
St Peter
 May 4
St Philip and St James
St Peter
 May 9
Europe Day
Abbey
 May 14
St Mathias
St Peter
 May 15
Anniversary of the Coronation of Henry III
Abbey
 May 16**
Election of The Lord Mayor of Westminster
Abbey
 
Ascension Eve
St Peter
 May 17 Foundation of the Order of the Bath
St Peter
 
Ascension Day
 
 May 20
Charter Day 1560
Abbey
 May 26**
Eve of Pentecost
St Peter
 May 27
Pentecost
St Peter
 May 31
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
St Peter
 June 2
Coronation Day [1953]
St Peter
 June 2**
Trinity Eve
St Peter
 June 3
Trinity Sunday
St Peter
 2 - 5
Diamond Jubilee Weekend
 
 June 7**
Eve of Corpus Christi
St Peter
 June 8
Corpus Christi
St Peter
 June 10
The birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh
Abbey
 June 16
The Sovereign’s Official Birthday
Abbey
 June 21
Birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge
Abbey
 June 24**
Eve of the Birth of John The Baptist
St Peter
 June 25
The Birth of John The Baptist
St Peter
 June 28**
Eve of St Peter
St Peter
 June 29
St Peter
St Peter
 July 2** Eve of St Thomas St Peter
 July 3
St Thomas
St Peter
 July 4
Election Day, Westminster School
Abbey
 July 5**
Eve of Patronal Festival - St Peter Transferred
St Peter
 July 6
Patronal Festival - St Peter Transferred
St Peter
 July 8
Civic Sunday
Abbey
 July 9
20th Century Martyrs
St Peter
 July 11
St Benedict
St Peter
 July 17
Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall
Abbey
 July 20
St Margaret
St Peter
 July 22
St Margaret’s Patronal Festival Day
St Peter
 July 23
St Mary Magdalen
St Peter
 July 25
St James
St Peter
 August 5**
Eve of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
St Peter
 August 6
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
St Peter
 August 14** Eve of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
August 15 The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
August 16 Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Abbey
August 24 St Bartholomew St Peter
September 8 Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
September 14 Holy Cross Day St Peter
September 15 Birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales Abbey
September 16 Battle of Britain Sunday RAF Ensign
September 21 St Matthew St Peter
September 28** Eve of St Michael and All Angels St Peter
September 29 St Michael and All Angels St Peter
October 1 Judge's Service Abbey
October 11-13 Translation of St Edward, King and Confessor, 1269 Abbey
October 16 Feast of Dedication St Peter
October 18 St Luke St Peter
October 24 United Nations Day Abbey
October 28 St Simon and St Jude St Peter
October 28 All Saints’ Sunday St Peter
October 30 Anniversary of The Coronation of King Henry VII Abbey
October 31** Eve of All Saints Day St Peter
November 1 All Saints' Day St Peter
November 2 All Souls' Day St Peter
November 8-11 Opening of The Field of Remembrance Union
November 11 Remembrance Sunday Union
November 13 Birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales Abbey
November 17 Foundation Day Abbey
November 20 65th Wedding Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh Abbey
November 30 St Andrew St Andrew
December 8 Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
December 24** Christmas Eve St Peter
December 25 Christmas Day St Peter
December 26 St Stephen St Peter
December 27 St John St Peter
December 28 Holy Innocents St Peter