Stars and stripes flags for Trump UK visit had to be changed for brighter red [View all]

Source: The Guardian

Thu 2 Oct 2025 03.40 EDT
First published on Thu 2 Oct 2025 03.39 EDT


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.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/stars-stripes-flags-trump-uk-visit-changed-brighter-red