How to tell if the Queen of England is at home

Learn how to tell if the Queen of England is at home in this simple, easy to follow, step-by-step guide!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Buckinghamd Palace

   Look for the flagstaff on the building. On Buckingham Palace, this will be on the roof, directly above the main entrance.

2. 
    
   Royal Standard

   If the flag above the door is the Royal Standard, the Queen is home. Variations of this flag is flown for other royal members however, the flag pictured and discussed in this article is the Queen's. The Royal Standard has four quarters and is actually a banner of arms. In quarters one and four the flag hosts the three lions representing guardianship of England. In quarter two the lion rampant, the Royal Standard of the King of Scots is placed and in quarter three the Irish Harp. These of course, represent the Scottish and Irish territories within the United Kingdom.

3. 
    
   Union Jack

   Do not confuse the Royal Standard with the Union Jack, which can be flown for many reasons. The Royal Standard is the Queen's personal flag and as such, has very strict usage rules. The Royal Standard can only be flown when the Queen is in the building, not when she is passing in procession.