Australian flags incorrectly displayed before British royal visit in Washington

On April 24, 2026, District of Columbia authorities mistakenly displayed 15 Australian flags among 230 British flags near the White House in preparation for the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla. The error occurred ahead of the royal visit scheduled for the following Monday. The United States Department of Transportation confirmed the mistake and noted that public works crews promptly replaced the incorrect flags. King Charles is the head of state for both the United Kingdom and Australia, though the latter role is largely ceremonial. The visit coincides with preparations for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Former President Donald Trump described the visit as having potential to positively impact the U.K.-U.S. relationship, which has faced recent tensions regarding the war in Iran. Officials apologized for the oversight, citing it as an administrative error.