Flag days
The two magnificent west towers above the Great West Door were 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 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 1042–1066 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 1560. It is flown on most Church Festivals, such as the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christmas Day.
The Abbey Flag
This bears the coat of arms of Westminster Abbey, and is flown during a State Visit on the day when the Head of State visits the Grave of The Unknown Warrior.
Other Flags
The Union Flag is flown on Remembrance Sunday.
The Flags of the National Saints; George, Andrew, and Patrick, are flown on their respective days, and 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 National Flag is flown on the day when the High Commission of a Commonwealth member state is represented at Evensong.
Flag day calendar
April
Tuesday, 23rd April 2024
St George, martyr, patron of England, c 303
St George flag
May
Wednesday, 1st May 2024
St Philip and St James, apostles
St Peter flag
Monday, 6th May 2024
Coronation Day, 2023
St Peter flag
Thursday, 9th May 2024
Ascension Day
St Peter flag
Tuesday, 14th May 2024
St Matthias the Apostle
St Peter flag
Saturday, 18th May 2024
Letters Patent creating the Order of the Bath, 1725
St Peter flag
Sunday, 19th May 2024
The Day of Pentecost
St Peter flag
Sunday, 26th May 2024
Trinity Sunday
St Peter flag
Thursday, 30th May 2024
Corpus Christi
St Peter flag
Friday, 31st May 2024
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth
St Peter flag
June
Tuesday, 11th June 2024
St Barnabas the Apostle
St Peter flag
