Royal mourning will be observed from now until seven days after the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III has said it is his wish that mourning continue for a week and flags will remain at half mast until the period is complete.
The Royal Family, Royal Household staff and all representatives of the Royal Household on duties as well as troops on Ceremonial Duties will observe Royal Mourning for that period.
All flags on royal residences were lowered to half mast yesterday when The Queen died. They will remain there until 8am on the day after Royal Mourning ends.
The Royal Standard will fly at full mast when His Majesty The King is in residence.
All of the Royal Residences will remain closed until after The Queen’s Funeral. This includes The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace as well as her homes at Balmoral and Sandringham. Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland will also be shut.
Floral tributes are already being laid at many of the Royal Family’s homes and guidance has been given on how people should leave flowers. Those going to Buckingham Palace are asked to place their tributes at designated sites in Green Park and Hyde Park. Any left at the gates themselves will be moved to those sites. At Windsor Castle, tributes are to be placed at the Cambridge Gate while at Sandringham, they should be placed at the Norwich Gates. The Main Gate at Balmoral will be accessible for people to leave flowers. At Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, people are encouraged to hand flowers to the wardens. Tributes can be placed at the main gate and the Castle forecourt at Hillsbourgh Castle.
There will be no physical books of condolence at royal residences. Instead, people are asked to leave their messages in an online book on the Royal Family’s website.
