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.

A Commonwealth National Flag is flown on the day when the High Commission is represented at Evensong. 

2013 Abbey Flag List

                                                                                                                          
DATE OCCASION FLAG
JANUARY
Tuesday 1st The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus St Peter
Friday 4th** Eve of Death of Edward the Confessor Abbey
Saturday 5th** Eve of Death of Edward the Confessor Abbey
Eve of Epiphany
St Peter
Sunday 6th The Epiphany St Peter
Wednesday 9th Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge Abbey
Tuesday 15th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I Abbey
Sunday 20th Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex Abbey
Thursday 24th Eve of Conversion of St Paul
St Peter
Friday 25th Conversion of St Paul
St Peter
FEBRUARY
Friday 1st** Eve of Presentation of Christ in the Temple
St Peter
Saturday 2nd Presentation of Christ in the Temple
St Peter
Wednesday 6th The Queen's Accession Day [1952] Abbey
Wednesday 13th Ash Wednesday St Peter
Tuesday 19th Birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of York Abbey
MARCH
Friday 1st St David's Day
Red Dragon
Sunday 10th Birthday of His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex Abbey
Monday 11th Commonwealth Day
Abbey and R Standard
Sunday 17th St Patrick's Day
St Patrick
25th - 30th Note - no flags in Holy Week none
Saturday 30th** Easter Eve
St Peter
Sunday 31st Easter Day
none
APRIL
1st - 7th Easter Week
St Peter
Sunday 7th** Eve of The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter
Monday 8th The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
Tuesday 9th Dedication of St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey. 1523
St Peter
Sunday 21st Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Abbey
Tuesday 23rd St George's Day
St George
Thursday 25th Anzac Day St Peter
St Mark
MAY
Wednesday 1st St Philip and St James St Peter
Wednesday 8th** Ascension Eve
St Peter
Thursday 9th Ascension Day
St Peter
Tuesday 14th St Mathias
St Peter
Wednesday 15th Anniversary of the Coronation of Henry III Abbey
Election of The Lord Mayor of Westminster
Friday 17th Foundation of the Order of the Bath St Peter
Ascension Day
Saturday 18th** Eve of Pentecost St Peter
Sunday 19th Pentecost St Peter
Monday 20th Charter Day 1560 Abbey
Saturday 25th** Trinity Eve St Peter
Sunday 26th Trinity Sunday St Peter
Wednesday 29th** Eve of Corpus Christi St Peter
Thursday 30th Corpus Christi St Peter
Friday 31st The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth St Peter
JUNE
Sunday 2nd Coronation Day [1953] St Peter
Tuesday 4th 60th Anniversary of the Coronation Service Abbey and Royal Standard
Monday 10th The birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh Abbey
Tuesday 11th St Barnabas St Peter
Sunday 16th The Sovereign's Official Birthday Abbey
Friday 21st Birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge Abbey
Sunday 23rd** Eve of The Birth of John The Baptist St Peter
Monday 24th The Birth of John The Baptist St Peter
Friday 28th** Eve of St Peter St Peter
Saturday 29th St Peter St Peter
JULY
Tuesday 2nd** Eve of St Thomas St Peter
Wednesday 3rd St Thomas St Peter
Election Day, Westminster School
Sunday 7th Civic Sunday Abbey
Tuesday 9th 20th Century Martyrs St Peter
Thursday 11th St Benedict St Peter
Wednesday 17th Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall Abbey
Saturday 20th St Margaret St Peter
St Margaret's Patronal Festival Day
Monday 22nd St Mary Magdalen St Peter
Thursday 25th St James St Peter
AUGUST
Monday 5th** Eve of the Transfiguration of Our Lord St Peter
Tuesday 6th The Transfiguration of Our Lord St Peter
Wednesday 14th** Eve of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
Thursday 15th The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
Friday 16th Birthday of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Abbey
Saturday 24th St Bartholomew St Peter
SEPTEMBER
Monday 9th Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
Saturday 14th Holy Cross Day St Peter
Sunday 15th Battle of Britain Sunday RAF Ensign
Birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales
Saturday 21st St Matthew St Peter
Sunday 29th** Eve of St Michael and All Angels St Peter
Monday 30th St Michael and All Angels St Peter
OCTOBER
Tuesday 1st Judge's Service Abbey
Saturday 12th - 20th Translation of St Edward, King and Confessor, 1269 Abbey
Friday 18th St Luke
St Peter
Sunday 20th Feast of Dedication Abbey
Thursday 24th United Nations Day Abbey
Monday 28th St Simon and St Jude St Peter
Wednesday 30th Anniversary of The Coronation of King Henry VII Abbey
Thursday 31st** Eve of All Saints Day St Peter
NOVEMBER
Friday 1st - 3rd All Saints
St Peter
Monday 4th All Souls' Day St Peter
Thursday 7th - 11th Field of Remembrance & Remembrance Sunday (10th) Union
Wednesday 13th Birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales Abbey
Sunday 17th Foundation Day Abbey
Wednesday 20th 66th Wedding Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh Abbey
Saturday 30th St Andrew St Andrew
Sunday 8th Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Peter
Tuesday 24th** Christmas Eve St Peter
Wednesday 25th Christmas Day St Peter
Thursday 26th St Stephen St Peter
Friday 27th St John St Peter
Saturday 28th Holy Innocents St Peter