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Dozens of US flags used for Donald Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to the UK last month had to be replaced because the stripes were the wrong shade of red, a government supplier has claimed.
The switch of the 66 hand-sewn flags that had been due to be used along the Mall in London and at Windsor Castle cost an estimated £52,800 in public funds.
Nick Farley, the managing director of the Flag Consultancy, which the government contracts for all big ceremonial events, said the US embassy objected to the £800 flags earmarked for the visit.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “The Americans decided that the red we use, which is called R01, wasn’t right for them, and that they wanted a cherry red instead, so we had to buy all new flags for this visit.”
He said the switch meant the stars and stripes featured a brighter shade of red than the union flags flown alongside them.
“Their red is now stronger than the red on the union flag,” Farley said. “Before a state visit, we have to provide samples and go to the embassies in London to get signoff. Countries find it insulting if we get our colours wrong.”
Farley speculated that a sample flag shown to the embassy may have faded slightly due to the sun damage from previous uses including Trump’s first state visit in June 2019.
He told the Telegraph: “One part of their flag is red. And the one we had in storage was closer to a russet colour, and let’s just say they were unhappy. That’s the problem with flags that are not commonly flown: it is our interpretation versus their interpretation.”
The US embassy has not commented.
If confirmed, the switch of flags, would underline the extent to which Trump was indulged by the UK during his unprecedented second visit. The invitation for the visit came in a handwritten letter to Trump, presented by Keir Starmer during his first meeting with the president in the White House in February.
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During the three-day visit to the UK, Trump was entertained by King Charles and other members of the royal family. He was driven round the grounds of Windsor castle to keep him away from protesters, and greeted by Starmer at the prime minister’s country estate at Chequers. At a joint press conference at Chequers a series of dubious claims by Trump went unchallenged by Starmer.
Trump described the visit as “truly one of the highest honours of my life”.
A government spokesperson defended the visit, saying: “Our historic US state visit brought record-breaking investment into the UK of £150bn – boosting jobs and catapulting growth.”
