When the Queen is at home, you can see her flag, the Royal Standard, flying from the pole on top of Buckingham Palace. In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown from buildings where the Queen is present. It flies above the Union Jack, Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags. It never flies at half staff (although an exception was made following the death of Princess Diana).
The Monument is a memorial to the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, and built between 1671 and 1677. It measures 61 m (202-feet) – the exact distance from its base to Pudding Lane, where the fire broke out. A flaming copper urn sits upon the top, to symbolise the flames.
The Monument is the tallest single stone column in the world. You can also get a good view from above, by climbing the 311 steps to the Monument’s viewing platform.
Fire Fire, Fire Fire …
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed 400 streets, 13,200 houses, 89 churches and four city gates, but only six people died.