Letter: Victorian flag

Sir: I read in the Dictionary of National Biography that when King William IV died the servants of his widow, Queen Adelaide, naturally flew the Royal Standard at half mast at Windsor, where she was living. The new Queen, Victoria, paid an immediate dutiful visit to her mourning aunt. The servants, correctly according to protocol, prepared to raise the flag mast-high, since the reigning monarch was present in her own palace. The Queen, out of respect, forbade this and insisted on the flag remaining at half mast throughout her visit.

JOHN LIVINGSTONE

Biarritz, France