An embarrassing blunder has cast a shadow over a pivotal moment of King Charles III's visit to the US. The King and Queen Camilla were attending a wreath-laying tribute at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia when the mistake was spotted – with a Union flag displayed upside down during a solemn military ceremony.
The occasion marked the conclusion of the King's US state visit and saw him lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument built in 1921 which honours unidentified American soldiers lost in war. Social media users were quick to notice the gaffe as American soldiers marched in behind the King with the Union flag hanging upside down.
Sky News US correspondent Mark Stone, posting on X, said: 'Rather a diplomatic gaffe by the Americans here. The Union flag is upside down at the Arlington Cemetery event.' The flag's slightly uneven appearance is due to a historic design technique known as 'counterchanging', created by combining the St Andrew's Cross and St Patrick's Cross so neither nation appears more dominant.
When flown correctly, the border white stripe must sit above the red in the top corner nearest the flagpole. Earlier, Donald Trump bid farewell to Charles and Camilla, describing the King as 'the greatest king in my book' and the couple as 'great people'. On Tuesday, Charles delivered a 28-minute speech to Congress, focusing on international cooperation and support for Ukraine, which received a standing ovation.
Following his state visit, the King will travel to Bermuda to undertake his first royal visit as monarch to a British overseas territory, before returning to the UK.
