This is a list of flags that have either been in use, or are currently used by, the United Kingdom and related territories. [edit] Current national flags National and subnational flags of the United Kingdom.[1] [edit] United Kingdom [edit] Great Britain [edit] Northern Ireland Northern Ireland does not currently have a de jure National flag[2] other than the Union Flag - the banner of the former coat of arms of the Government of Northern Ireland banner; the Ulster Banner, is still in use by international sporting organisations, (eg FIFA,[3] UEFA,[4] and the Commonwealth Games)[5] and can be seen in the Historical flags section. [edit] Ensigns Main article: British ensign | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1801 - | Blue Ensign, used by some organisations or territories associated with the UK and also used by Royal Navy Captain of Merchant Navy Ship - e.g., RMS Queen Mary | A blue field, with a Union Flag in the canton |  | 1801 - | Red Ensign, used by the Merchant Navy | A red field, with a Union Flag in the canton |  | 1801 - | White Ensign, Royal Navy, usually ships bearing the prefix HMS (but see blue ensign), and the Royal Yacht Squadron | A red cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the canton |  | 1931 - | Civil Air Ensign, used by civilian aircraft | A blue and white cross on a light blue field with the Union Flag in the canton |  | 1921 - | Royal Air Force Ensign | A RAF light blue field with the Royal Air Force roundel in the fly with a Union Flag in the canton |  | | Civil Jack | A Union Flag with a white border |  | | Sea Cadet Corps Ensign | RNR Blue Ensign with SCC badge |  | | Air Training Corps Ensign | RAF Ensign with RAF roundel replaced by ATC badge | [edit] Royal Standards [edit] Queen Elizabeth II [edit] Standards & Banners of the Prince of Wales [edit] Other members of the Royal Family | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1948 - | Standard of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh | A banner of the Coat of Arms of the Duke of Edinburgh, 1st quarter representing Denmark, 2nd quarter Greece, 3rd quarter the Mountbatten family, 4th quarter Edinburgh |  | 2000 - | Standard of HRH Prince William of Wales | Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three point label, the centre label bearing an Escallop in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales |  | 2002 - | Standard of HRH Prince Henry of Wales | Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first, centre and fifth labels bearing an Escallop in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales |  | 1978 - | Standard of HRH The Duke of York | Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three point label, the centre label bearing a blue anchor |  | 2006 - | Standard of HRH Princess Beatrice of York | Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label with three bees in alternating points |  | 2008 - | Standard of HRH Princess Eugenie of York | Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label with three thistle heads in alternating points |  | | Standard of HRH The Earl of Wessex | Banner of the Earl's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three point label, the centre label bearing a Tudor Rose |  | | Standard of HRH The Princess Royal | Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three point label, the first and third labels bearing a red cross, the centre label bearing a red heart. |  | 1962 - | Standard of HRH The Duke of Gloucester | Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a red lion. |  | | Standard of HRH The Duke of Kent | Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a blue anchor, the second and fourth labels bearing a red cross. |  | | Standard of HRH Prince Michael of Kent | Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a blue anchor. |  | 1961 - | Standard of HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy | Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first and fifth labels bearing a red heart, the third label bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a blue anchor. | [edit] Others | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1323 - | The Royal Standard of Scotland | A banner of the ancient Royal coat of arms of Scotland, now officially used in Scotland by representatives of the sovereign, including the First Minister of Scotland, (as keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland), the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and Lord-Lieutenants within their lieutenancies.[7] This flag is also used at the Royal residences of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the sovereign is not present. |  | | Flag used by the Lord-Lieutenants, the sovereign's representative in the counties of the United Kingdom, except by those in Scotland. (see above). | The Union Flag, defaced with a sword, crowned. |  | | Standard of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Royal Standard of England, with a three point label, each containing three fleurs-de-lis |  | | Standard of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports | A banner of the Lord's coat of arms featuring three Lions passant guardant con-joined to these hulls, all in gold | [edit] Military flags and ex-services flags | Flag | Date | Use | Description | | 1801 - | Ensign of the Royal Navy | The White Ensign |  | | Non Ceremonial Flag of the British Army | A red field defaced with the badge of the British Army. | | 1921 - | Ensign of the Royal Air Force | A light blue ensign defaced with the Royal Air Force roundel |  | 1941 - 1996 | Ensign of the Royal Observer Corps | A light blue ensign defaced with the Royal Observer Corps badge. | | 1921 - | Ensign of the Royal Civil Defence | A light blue and yellow ensign defaced with the letters CD. |  | 1956 - | Flag of the Joint Services | A dark blue, red and light blue tricolour defaced with the Joint Service badge. |  | | Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary | A blue ensign defaced with a yellow anchor |  | | Ensign of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service | A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor with two wavy yellow lines beneath |  | | Flag of the Royal British Legion | A blue ensign with a yellow band across the middle with the words British Legion and the name of the branch |  | | Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution | A red cross with a blue border on a white field, with the letters RNLI in red in each quarter, defaced with a crowned anchor. |  | | Ensign of the Lighthouse authorities | A red ensign defaced with a Trinity House Jack |  | | Flag of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom | A fouled anchor on a crimson background | [edit] Government [edit] Church [edit] Diplomatic flags | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | | Flag used on British Embassies (High Commissions fly the Union Flag) | A Union Flag defaced with the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom |  | | Flag used on British consulates | A Union Jack defaced with the Royal Crown | | | Flag used onboard British consular vessels | A blue ensign with the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom | [edit] Overseas territories In 1999, the maritime flags of the British Overseas Territories were updated at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The white discs were removed from the field of the flags and each respective coat of arms was increased in size for ease of identification. As the MOD only had authority over sea flags, the Governments of the Overseas Territories were free to continue using the flags with white discs on land. The Overseas Territories' governments did switch to the updated flags over a staggered period of time, however some old-style flags with white discs may still be seen. | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1982 - | Flag of Gibraltar | Two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the centre of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centred in the red band |  | 1921 - | Government Ensign | A British Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and the badge of Gibraltar in the fly |  | 1996 - | Civil Ensign | A British Red Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and the badge of Gibraltar in the fly |  | ? - | Personal flag of the Governor of Gibraltar | A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Gibraltar | [edit] Governors' flags Prior to 1999, all Governors' flags had smaller discs and the outer green garland without the gold ring. Therefore the dates given do not reflect this minor, consistent change. [edit] Counties, regions and cities | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | | Flag of Berkshire
(private proposal) | Two horizontal bands of white over light blue, bearing, overall, a stylised image of a golden deer and oak. |  | 12th century | St Piran's Flag, the Flag of Cornwall[10] | A white cross on a black field |  | 2006 - | Flag of Derbyshire[10][11] | A green cross with a white border on a sky blue field, with a gold Tudor rose in the centre. |  | 2003 - | Flag of Devon, St Petroc's flag[10][12] | A white cross with a black border on a green field. |  | 2008 - | Flag of Dorset, The Dorset Cross alias St Wite's Cross[10][12] | A white cross with a red border on a gold field. |  | 1900 - | Flag of East Anglia.[10] | The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty of East Anglia, three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St. George's cross. |  | | Flag of Essex[10] | A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes. |  | 2008 | Flag of Gloucestershire The Severn Cross[10][12] | The winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium. |  | | Flag of Huntingdonshire
(unofficial) | On a green background, a gold, ribboned hunting horn - detail taken from the crest of the county arms (full achievement). |  | | Flag of the Isle of Wight[10] | A pale blue field with a nicked rhombus (a representation of the island's shape) and at the bottom six alternating bars wavy, navy blue and white. |  | | Flag of the Isles of Scilly[10] | The Scillonian Cross |  | | Flag of Kent[10] | A red field with the white horse of Kent in the centre. |  | 2008 - | Flag of Lancashire[10] | The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow field. |  | 2005 - | Flag of Lincolnshire[10][11] | A red cross with yellow trimming on a blue and green field, and a yellow fleur de lys in the middle of the cross. |  | | Flag of Mercia | A gold saltire on a blue field (Cross of St Alban); the traditional flag of the Kingdom of Mercia, still flown on Tamworth Castle. |  | | Flag of Middlesex[10] | A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes under a gold Saxon crown. |  | 1951 | Flag of Northumberland[10]
| Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner (below)[13]. |  | Interpretation of 7th century banner | Reconstructed flag of Northumbria or Bernicia | The gold and red banner attributed to King Oswald[14]. |  | 2007 - | Flag of Orkney[15][10] | A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field. |  | | Flag of the Outer Hebrides | |  | | Flag of Pembrokeshire[10] | A yellow cross on a blue field with a variation of the red and white Tudor rose in the centre |  | 1969 - | Flag of Shetland[15][10] | A white Nordic cross on a light blue field |  | | Flag of Suffolk
(private proposal) | A cross of Saint George bearing a shield of arms attributed to the martyred Saint Edmund. |  | | Flag of Sussex[11] | A background divided red and blue bearing six traditional golden (yellow)martlets over a stylised representation of the waves on the Sussex shoreline. |  | | Flag of Wessex | A gold wyvern on a red field. | | File:Wiltshire flag.jpg | | Flag of Wiltshire (private proposal, design under copyright) | Alternating downward angled stripes of green and white bearing a green disc within six alternating green and white sections, on which stands an image of a Great Bustard.[16] |  | | Flag of Yorkshire[10] | A White Rose on a blue field. | [edit] Local authority flags Certain local authorities fly their own flags. Generally such a flag is a banner of the civic arms. [edit] Countries, states, etc. See Here for international flags featuring the Union Jack (Eg. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tuvalu, British Columbia, Ontario and Hawaii) [edit] Miscellaneous [edit] Historical flags [edit] National flags and ensigns | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1953 - 1972 | The Ulster Banner - Flag of the Former Government of Northern Ireland between (1953-1972) and still used to represent Northern Ireland in some sporting events in which Northern Ireland competes | A red cross on a white field with a red hand, on a six pointed white star, crowned (representing the six counties in Northern Ireland). The Ulster Banner ceased to be officially recognised with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 which dissolved the Parliament of Northern Ireland. |  | 1606 - 1801 | Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain (From 1707) | First version of the Union Flag used in England from 1606 and Scotland from 1707 - the Flags of England and Scotland superimposed. |  | 1606 - 1707 | Scottish Union Flag | The alternative Union Flag as often used in Scotland prior to 1707.[17][18] |  | 1783 - 1922 | Saint Patrick's saltire, the symbol of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, the British order of chivalry associated with Ireland. | A red saltire on a white field. Used to represent Ireland in the Union Flag and unofficially to represent Ireland from the Act of Union to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. |  | 1620 - 1707 | English Red Ensign | The Red Ensign of the English Royal Navy |  | 1620 - 1707 | English White Ensign | The White Ensign of the English Royal Navy |  | 1620 - 1707 | English Blue Ensign | The Blue Ensign of the English Royal Navy |  | - 1707 | Scottish Red Ensign, used by the Royal Scottish Navy | A red ensign with the Flag of Scotland in the canton |  | 1707 - 1801 | Red Ensign of Great Britain | The Red Ensign with the first version of the Union Flag. This was the flag flown over the United States of America prior to the American Revolution |  | 1707 - 1801 | White Ensign of Great Britain | The White Ensign with the first version of the Union Flag |  | 1707 - 1801 | Blue Ensign of Great Britain | The Blue Ensign with the first version of the Union Flag |  | 1649 - 1651 | Flag of the Commonwealth of England | St. George's Cross and an Irish Harp juxtaposed. |  | 1651 - 1658 | Flag of the Commonwealth of England | St. George's Cross and St. Andrew's cross quartered. |  | 1658 - 1660 | Flag of The Protectorate | The 1606 Union Jack defaced with an Irish Harp. | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1885 - 1958 | Flag of the Colony of Barbados | A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Barbados |  | 1958 - 1966 | Flag of the Colony of Barbados | A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Barbados | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1937 - 1948 | Flag of Burma | A blue ensign defaced with a peafowl inside a disc | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1922 - 1961 | Flag of the British Cameroons | A blue ensign defaced with the words British Cameroon surrounded bananas all inside a white disc | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1868 - 1921 | Flag of Canada | A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada at that time |  | 1921 - 1957 | Flag of Canada | A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada at that time |  | 1957 - 1965 | Flag of Canada | A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1922 - 1960 | Flag of Cyprus | A blue ensign defaced with two red lions | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1821 - 1957 | Flag of the Colony of Gold Coast | A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters GC under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1919 - 1954 | Flag of the British Guiana | A blue ensign defaced with a sailing ship and the motto inside an oval | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1919 - 1981 | Flag of British Honduras | A blue ensign defaced with a the coat of arms of British Honduras | [edit] Hong Kong | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1815 - 1864 | Flag of the Ionian Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the shield of the symbol of Mark the Evangelist (symbol of the Republic of Venice) | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1875 - 1906 | Colonial Flag of Jamaica | A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle |  | 1906 - 1957 | Colonial Flag of Jamaica | A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle |  | 1957 - 1962 | Colonial Flag of Jamaica | A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle |  | 1962 | Colonial Flag of Jamaica | A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1946 - 1948 | Flag of the Federated Malay States | The flag was striped horizontally with an overall 1:2 to ratio with white stripe at the top, red, yellow and black at the bottom. In the center was a white oblong, with a horizontal major axis, and a Malayan tiger (Malay: Harimau Malaya) leaping, face to the left | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1882 - 1963 | Flag of North Borneo | A blue ensign defaced with the Badge of North Borneo | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1927-1948 | Flag of the British Mandate of Palestine | A red ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for used by ships registered in the territory. The Union Jack was used as the general land flag of the mandate. | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1906-1949 | Flag of the Territory of Papua | A blue ensing defaced with a crown and the word Papua underneath inside a white disc | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1874-1942 | Flag of the British Straits Settlements | A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crown; one for each settlement separated with a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1919 - 1961 | Flag of Tanganyika | A red ensign defaced with the head of a giraffe in a white disc | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1976 - 1978 | Colonial flag of Tuvalu | A blue ensign defaced with a circular badge with a hut and the motto of Tuvalu | | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1958 - 1962 | Flag of the West Indies Federation | It bore four equally-spaced narrow white stripes with a large orange-gold disc over the middle two lines in the center of the flag, undulating horizontally across a blue field representing the Caribbean Sea and the sun shining upon the waves. | [edit] Royal standards | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1198 - 1340 | Royal Banner of King Richard I | Gules, three lions passant regardant in pale or. |  | 1340-1406 | Royal Banner of King Edward III | The Coat of Arms of England quartered with the Royal Standard of France, the Fleur-de-lis representing the English claim to the French throne. |  | 1406 - 1603 | Royal Banner of King Henry IV | The French quartering has been altered to three fleurs-de-lys. |  | 1603 - 1649, 1660 - 1689, 1702 - 1707 | Royal Standard of the House of Stuart, used first by King James VI/I | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of James I, first and fourth quarters representing England and the English claim to the French throne, second quarter representing Scotland, third quarter representing Ireland (This is the first time that Ireland has been represented on the Royal Standard). |  | 1707 - 1714 | Royal Standard of the House of Stuart, under Queen Anne after the Acts of Union | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Queen Anne, first and fourth quarters representing (newly unified) England and Scotland, second quarter representing the (English) claim to the French throne, third quarter representing Ireland. |  | 1814 - 1837 | Royal Standard of the House of Hanover from 1814 to 1837 | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of King George III, first and fourth quarters representing England, second quarter representing Scotland, third quarter representing Ireland, with an escutcheon for Hanover. | [edit] Members of the Royal Family | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1936 - 2002 | Standard of Queen Elizabeth, consort of King George VI | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of the Earl of Strathmore: ("bows" and "lions") |  | 1910 - 1953 | Standard of Queen Mary, consort of King George V | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck (the Queen's father) and Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (the Queen's maternal grandfather) |  | 1901 - 1928 | Standard of Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of the King of Denmark. |  | 1944 - 2002 | Standard of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three point label, first and third labels bearing a Tudor rose, the second label bearing a thistle proper. |  | 1917 - 1981 | Standard of Princess Alice of Albany | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five point label, the first, second, fourth and fifth labels bearing a red heart, the third label bearing a red cross. | [edit] Welsh Royal Standards | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | 1401 - 1416 | Banner adopted by Owain Glyndŵr and thought to be derived from the counter-charged arms of the princely Houses of Mathrafal and Dinefwr. It is currently in use by the National Eisteddfod for Wales, Cymdeithas yr iaith and widely amongst independentist groups | Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions rampant counter-charged |  | c.1195 - 1378 | Banner of the princely House of Aberffraw and the Kingdom of Gwynedd famously used by Llywelyn the Great, Llywelyn the Last and Owain Lawgoch. The English Prince of Wales uses a version of this flag today emblazoned with a Crown on a green shield | Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions passant guardant counter-charged langued and armed Azur |  | c.1100 - c.1400 | Banner of the princely House of Mathrafal used during the early Middle Ages by the rulers of Powys, Powys Wenwynwyn and later by their heirs the de la Pole (Powysian) dynasty. Modern use is rare | Or a Lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure |  | c.1100 - c.1300 | Banner of the princely House of Dinefwr and the Kingdom of Deheubarth, a realm which covered much of south Wales. The banner would have been used during the early Middle Ages and later by the Talbot dynasty who inherited the arms. Modern use is rare | Gules a Lion rampant Or, a border engrailed of the last |  | c.1240 - 1282 | Banner of the personal arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd | Argent three Lions passant Gules |  | c.1160 - c.1350 | Banner of Madog ap Gruffudd Maelor, and later the Banner of Powys Fadog | Argent a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules | [edit] Battle flags | Flag | Date | Use | Description |  | c.1400 - 1416 | Banner known as the Y Ddraig Aur or "Golden Dragon" which has ancient origins. It was famously raised over Caernarvon in 1400 by Owain Glyndwr prior to his storm and seizing of the castle | Argent a dragon rampant Or | [edit] Governor's flags [edit] References [edit] See also [edit] External links |
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