Traditionally, the Union Flag was never flown at half-mast over Buckingham Palace. The flag represents the sovereign and is raised whenever the monarch is in residence.

According to strict convention, before Diana’s death it was never lowered – not even after the passing of a king or queen. This centuries-old rule was dramatically challenged in the days that followed Diana’s tragic death.

Thousands of mourners gathered outside the royal residences and layed flowers, but there was initial radio silence from the Firm.

The Queen, who was putting her family first at Balmoral, initially upheld tradition. But the growing public outcry proved impossible to ignore.

In response, the Palace announced that the Union Flag would be flown at half-mast over Buckingham Palace on the day of Diana’s funeral, September 6, 1997, from the time the late Queen left to attend the funeral until midnight.

It was the first time in history that this adjustment to protocol was made, creating an indelible image that many still remember today.

And this decision set a lasting precedent, for generations to come – which is still enforced today.

Ever since, the Union Flag at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences has been lowered to half-mast to mark national mourning, including after the September 11 attacks, the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 2002, and most recently following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Diana’s death not only reshaped the monarchy’s relationship with the public but also permanently altered the symbolic traditions of the Crown.

What began as a break in protocol has become an accepted practice – a reminder of how the People’s Princess left a legacy that continues to influence the royal family and the institution today.