Washington’s preparations for the royal welcome took an unexpected turn after a flag mistake briefly stole the spotlight from King Charles’ upcoming visit.
As crews dressed the US capital in ceremonial colors ahead of the monarch’s arrival, officials were left blushing when several Australian flags were mistakenly raised near the White House instead of the intended Union Jacks.
The error reportedly involved about 15 flags placed along key areas near the White House and Eisenhower’s Executive Office Building.
The confusion has arisen during large-scale preparations in Washington DC, where streets are lined with national flags ahead of the four-day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
While British and American flags were properly placed along major ceremonial routes, the unintentional display of Australian banners on prominent lamp posts quickly attracted attention.
Local transport officials confirmed the error was corrected shortly after it was spotted, with the incorrect flags quickly removed once the problem was reported.
The incident was quick to spark a flurry of comments online, with social media users joking about the confusion and wondering how such confusion got through the planning phase.
Others have pointed out the irony, pointing out that King Charles also plays a distinct constitutional role in Australia.
