A glut of VIPs and a heckled minister see Palestinian flag raised at London’s newest embassy

A crowd in London looks on during the flag-raising ceremony to mark the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

The flag-raising event to mark Britain’s recognition of the Palestinian state was running a little late at London’s newest embassy. Over a century late it might be argued.

The formalities had been due to kick off at 11am outside what had been known as the Palestinian Mission to the UK but there was a problem: too many VIPs.