From the desk of The Dean: New Years Day 2023
The Dean of The Society of St Michael and All Angels
A Happy New Year to you all!
As I write this, I sit watching the last of the Christmas TV that I managed to record over the Christmas period, and my Happy New Year flag flies proudly from my flagpole. As well as watching television, this Christmas, I found it a wonderful time for reflection.
This last year has been tumultuous, yet relatively normal when compared to the previous two years. As we in the UK gradually emerged from lockdown, it feels as though we are in a different world to the one that went before. And yet throughout all this turmoil, flags have remained relatively static.
During lockdown, I taught myself to name all of the flags of all the countries in the world. I can assure you it is a lot harder than it looks. Lockdown provided the perfect opportunity to study further and to educate myself in everything vexillology. My extensive study of vexillology led me down many paths, each new flag I purchased provided new stories to discover, and new dates to note down in my diary. My diary is now a wonderful mix of birthdays, meetings, and flag days commemorating past monarchs, battles, saints days and birthdays.
For some, flying flags is a matter of patriotism, either to ones country, county, town, or even football team. In my travels, I have seen what feels like every flag under the sun, yet I’m sure, barely scratches the surface. In my town, I have counted no less than fifty flagpoles in peoples gardens, on their garages, and on their roofs; which, for a small town such as mine, is pretty good going. The poles range proper carbon fibre numbers with golden finials, to big wooden sticks planted in the ground, and everything in between.
It was touching, when, at the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September, every flag seemed to be lowered to half-mast, including my own. I must confess, I was caught a little unawares by Her Late Majesty’s sudden passing – I had to hastily sew a mourning bow and affix it to the top of my flag pole. It was yet another stark reminder of the affection in with Her Late Majesty was held by ordinary people, and I hardly think my town was unique.
It was captivating to watch the moment in history when King Charles III was proclaimed and knowing that my flagpole was proudly flying my biggest flag at full mast for the occasion, although with my hastily made mourning bow still affixed to the top (which I’m pleased to confirm, lasted the full period of national mourning and is still in almost mint condition).
The change of monarch did not result in a change of Royal Standard in the United Kingdom, however, throughout the commonwealth realms we will see changes made to the Royal Standards that will have represented Her Late Majesty for decades. The Standards will substitute the ‘E’ surmounted by St Edwards Crown that represented Elizabeth II for a ‘C’ surmounted by a Tudor Crown for Charles III.
In Canada, on coronation day, we will hopefully see the Kings Personal Canadian Flag broken above the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament, as was done in 1902 and 1953 for his Great-Great Grandfather and Mother respectively. This occasional breaking of the rules in Canada also occurred on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, when the Queens Personal Canadian Flag was broken atop the Peace tower, Rideau Hall, and other legislatures across the country, to celebrate the historic moment.
How many of us I wonder have broken flag protocol, either for a special occasion, or perhaps simply because we felt like it? Do any of us really care about the protocols? Or are we simply of the mindset that rules are there to be broken? In 2006, many people ignored the law which forbade people flying national flags from their houses, in order to support the England national football team at the world cup. This in fact led to a change in the law which now allows pretty much any flag to be flown from any building or pole.
Since then, the number of flagpoles has grown exponentially and the market for flags has boomed. I personally do not have a problem with people having flagpoles in their garden (what can I say, I have one myself) but I know some people view them as an unnecessary display of patriotism, especially when one cannot see the walls of a house through all the Union Jacks and the red, white, and blue bunting that makes an appearance for jubilee’s, royal weddings and coronations; or the red and white of St George’s cross, during the world cup. It would seem that the British public dream up new ways and places to hang or fly flags with every passing year.
The only one issue I have, is when I see a Union Jack flying upside down! Sometimes, I believe it could almost be an honest mistake; however, as time wears on, and the number of Union Jack’s I see flying the wrong way up increases, I see the need for better education in the flying of flags, which is one of the aims of this society.
May I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year, and if you are a visitor to this site, please do consider donating or joining us.