Union Flag Upside Down at Royals' Arlington Ceremony

King Charles III and Queen Camilla concluded their state visit to the United States with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on April 30, where American service members displayed a Union Flag upside down during the procession.

The royal couple paid respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial built in 1921 to honor unidentified American service members lost in war. As soldiers marched behind the King following the wreath placement, observers noted the flag's incorrect orientation. Sky News US correspondent Mark Stone highlighted the issue on X, stating, "Rather a diplomatic gaffe by the Americans here. The Union flag is upside down at the Arlington Cemetery event."

The Union Flag's design features a deliberate asymmetry known as counterchanging, combining the white saltire of St. Andrew for Scotland and the red saltire of St. Patrick for Ireland over the crosses of England and Wales. When flown correctly, the wider white diagonal stripe must appear above the red stripe in the upper hoist near the flagpole. Britain's Flag Institute notes that flying it upside down is improper.

The incident followed a farewell event earlier that day...