This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies.
The College of Arms is the authority on the flying of flags in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and maintains the only official register of flags for these countries.[1] It was established in 1484 and as part of the Royal Household operates under the authority of the Crown.[1] The Lord Lyon King of Arms, established prior to 1399, holds a similar role within Scotland.[2] A separate private body called the Flag Institute, an educational charity financed by its own membership, also maintains a registry of United Kingdom flags that it styles 'the UK Flag Registry', though this has no official status under UK law.[3]
Certain classes of flag enjoy a special status within English planning law and can be flown without needing the planning permission normally required for advertisements. These include any country’s national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign; the flag of the Commonwealth, the United Nations or any other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member; a flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom; the flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom; the flag of St David; the flag of St Patrick; the flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom; any flag of the British Armed Forces; and the Armed Forces Day flag.[4]
National and subnational flags of the United Kingdom.[5]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| since 1801 | The Union Flag, also commonly known as the Union Jack. Used as the flag of the United Kingdom | A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing the Kingdom of Ireland). | National flag used by government and civilian population. A 1:2 ratio is the most common.[6] | |
| Vertical national flag used by government and civilian population. |
See also: Countries of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland flags issue.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1348[7] | Flag of England, also known as the St George's Cross | Argent a cross Gules | National flag of England also used by the Church of England, sports teams representing England and ordinary citizens. | ||
| 1924–1972 unofficial since 1972 | Northern Ireland has no official nor universally accepted flag.[8] The Ulster Banner portrayed here is from the former coat of arms of Northern Ireland and was the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1924 and 1972. Since 1972 this flag has continued to be used for want of another distinctive flag, almost exclusively amongst the Unionist community. The flag is commonly used for sporting events and teams from Northern Ireland, most notably in the Commonwealth Games, the Northern Ireland national football team and events where Northern Irish competitors represent the province specifically such as snooker, darts and golf. | ||||
| c. 1542 (variants first appeared c. 1286)[9] | Flag of Scotland, also known as the St Andrew's Cross, or the Saltire | Azure a saltire Argent | National flag used by Scottish Government and agencies, sports teams representing Scotland and by ordinary citizens. | ||
| c. 1807 (variants first appeared c. 1485) | Flag of Wales, also known as the Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch | Per fess Argent and Vert, a dragon passant Gules | National flag used by the Welsh Government and agencies, sports teams representing Wales and by ordinary citizens. |
The flags of England and of Scotland are ancient war flags which became by usage the national flags of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and of the Kingdom of Scotland respectively and continued in use until the Act of Union 1707. Thereafter, they were as de facto flags of those parts of the United Kingdom. The flag of Wales was formalised in 1959, but has ancient origins; the dragon was used as a battle-flag by countless Welsh rulers, the current flag being a redesign of the flag carried by Henry Tudor.[10] The Flag of Northern Ireland is controversial.[11] The coat of arms of the Government of Northern Ireland, a red cross on a white field, defaced with a Red Hand of Ulster within a six pointed star topped with a crown, became used as a local flag, though the end of the province's Government in 1973 ended its official status. This flag has continued to be the internationally recognisable de facto flag of Northern Ireland through its use by international sporting organisations (for example FIFA,[12] UEFA,[13] and the Commonwealth Games)[14] to represent Northern Ireland, though locally it has the allegiance mainly of the Unionist community. The St Patrick's Saltire is also sometimes used by the UK government in London to represent Northern Ireland when a discrete Northern Ireland flag is required.[15] [16]
See main article: Crown Dependencies.
See also: Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–present | A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with an inescutcheon of the island's coat of arms. Alderney is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. | |||
| Government Ensign of Alderney | A blue ensign with the arms of Alderney. | |||
| 1936–1985 | A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross). | |||
| 1985–present | A golden cross within a red cross on a white field (St George's Cross). Guernsey is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. | |||
| 1985–present | Civil Ensign of Guernsey | A red ensign with a Gold Cross. | ||
| 1985–present | State Ensign of Guernsey | A blue ensign with a Gold Cross. | ||
| c.1950–1953 | A dark blue field with the arms of Guernsey in the hoist and the words "HERM ISLAND" beneath it. | |||
| c.1953–present | A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with the coat of arms of the island in the canton. Herm is an island which belongs to the Bailiwick of Guernsey. | |||
| 1931–present | A triskelion on a red field. | |||
| 1971–present | Civil Ensign of the Isle of Man | A red ensign with a triskelion. | ||
| before 1981 | A red saltire on a white field. | |||
| 1981–present | A red saltire on a white field defaced with the island's badge | |||
| 2010–present | Civil Ensign of Jersey | A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Jersey on. | ||
| 1907–present | Government Ensign of Jersey | A blue ensign with the arms of Jersey. | ||
| 1938–present | A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross) with two lions (the arms of the Plantagenet Dukes of Normandy) in the canton. Strictly speaking, this was the personal flag of the Seigneur. Sark is an autonomous Crown Dependency and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. |
See main article: Parishes of Guernsey.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A white flag defaced in the centre with a dark green shield containing a gold Shield of the Trinity. | ||||
| A white flag with the shield of the parish in the centre, consisting of the coat of arms of Guernsey surrounded by a blue and silver ring bearing the name "ST PIERRE PORT GUERNSEY". | ||||
| A flag coloured two-thirds dark blue and one-third light blue (at the top), with a brown and green tree in the light blue section and a pair of crossed gold and silver keys (the Keys of Heaven) in the dark blue section. | ||||
| A white flag with a red field in the canton containing a gold Norman cross. At the bottom of the flag are three blue waves, with a red ship with four white sails sailing eastwards on the top wave. Below the ship is a gold scroll bearing the name "TORTEVAL", and behind the ship is a green shoreline, above which a grey gull is flying downwards. Above the gull is a grey skyline. | ||||
See main article: Parishes of Jersey.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A white flag with a shield in the centre containing eight horizontal stripes of white and red. | ||||
| A silver fish on a blue field. | ||||
| A golden anchor on a blue field. | ||||
| Two crossed gold axes on a blue field. | ||||
| A silver Maltese cross on a green field. | ||||
| A black gridiron on a white field. | ||||
| A red flag with a shield in the centre containing seven horizontal stripes of white and red (four white and three red). | ||||
| A silver fleur-de-lis on a blue field. | ||||
| A gold Latin cross on a blue field. | ||||
| Two crossed silver keys (the Keys of Heaven) on a red field. | ||||
| Three golden Holy Nails surrounded by a golden crown of thorns on a red field. | ||||
| A silver and gold Shield of the Trinity with black text on a green field. |
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. Such flags have generally been adopted by Order in Council. Civil (Red Ensign) flags are under the control of the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Transport and are split into two categories: Category 1 is to register ships of unlimited tonnage and type. Category 2 is to register commercial ships and yachts of up to 150 gross registered tons.[17]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Anguilla | ||
| Flag used in Akrotiri and Dhekelia | The Union Jack is used as no territory flag exists | ||
| 2013–present | Ascension Island, a constituent part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Ascension Island | |
| 1999–present | Bermuda[18] | A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Bermuda. Used on land and as the civil ensign. (Government ensign is blue.) | |
| A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Bermuda. Used as the Government ensign. | |||
| 1963–present | British Antarctic Territory | A white ensign less the cross of St George defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory | |
| A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory | |||
| 1990–present | A blue ensign with white wavy lines, defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory. | ||
| 1960–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | ||
| A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |||
| 1999–present | Cayman Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | |
| A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |||
| 1999–present | Falkland Islands | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands. Used on land and as the government ensign. The civil ensign is red. | |
| A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign. | |||
| 1982–present | Gibraltar[19] | 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. This is the flag commonly used on land. | |
| 1999–present | A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. This is the ensign for vessels owned by the Government, or in Government service. | ||
| 1996–present | A red ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. Used as the civil ensign for locally registered vessel. | ||
| 1999–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Montserrat | ||
| 1984–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands | ||
| 1984–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Helena | ||
| 1985–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | ||
| 2002–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha | ||
| 1968–present | A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands | ||
| A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands |
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.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–present | Personal flag of the governor of Anguilla | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of Anguilla | ||
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the governor of Bermuda | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of Bermuda | ||
| 1962–present | Personal flag of the commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory | ||
| 1990–present | Flag of the commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory | A design based on the Blue Ensign with a Union Jack in the union and wavy white lines going horizontally along the field, defaced with the coat of arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory. This flag is also used as the de facto flag of the Territory. | ||
| 1971–present | Personal flag of the governor of the British Virgin Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1971–present | Personal flag of the governor of the Cayman Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of the Cayman Islands | ||
| 1948–present | Personal flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of the Falkland Islands | ||
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the governor of Gibraltar | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of Gibraltar | ||
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the governor of Montserrat | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of Montserrat | ||
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the governor of the Pitcairn Islands | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands | ||
| Before 2011 | Personal flag of the governor of Saint Helena | A Union Flag defaced with the coat of arms of Saint Helena | ||
| 1999–present | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |||
| 2002–present | Personal flag of the governor of Tristan da Cunha, also used by the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha | A Union Jack defaced with the coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha. | ||
| Before 2011 | A Union jack defaced with the coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands |
See main article: article and British ensign.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 on | Blue Ensign, used by some organisations or territories associated with the UK and also used by Royal Navy Reserve (not for some time) Captain of Merchant Navy Ship – e.g., | A blue field, with a Union Jack in the canton | ||
| 1864 on | Government Service Ensign (previously the Transport Ensign or Admiralty Ensign) | A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor | ||
| 1801 on | A red field, with a Union Jack in the canton | |||
| Civil Jack | A Union Jack with a white border | |||
| The Ensign of Trinity House | Red Ensign defaced with the shield of the coat of arms (a St George's Cross with a sailing ship in each quarter). The Master and Deputy Master each have their own flags. | |||
| 1994 | ||||
| 2006 | ||||
| 2006 | ||||
| 1931 on | Civil Air Ensign, used by civilian aircraft and at civil airports | A blue and white cross on a light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton | ||
| Dunkirk Jack, used by Member Ships of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, which consists of civilian vessels that participated in the Dunkirk evacuation. | The Cross of Saint George defaced with the Arms of Dunkirk. | |||
| Unofficial Cornish ensign (or St Piran's Ensign)[20] | The Cornish flag defaced with a Union flag in the canton. | |||
| 2000 | Another unofficial Cornish ensign flown by the ship 'Sweet Promise' during the 'Brest 2000' festival. | The Cornish flag defaced with the Standard of the Duke of Cornwall in the canton. | ||
| 2003 | Unofficial Devon Ensign (or St Petroc's Ensign) | The Devon flag defaced with a Union flag in the canton. | ||
| 2023 | Unofficial Warwickshire ensign found within Etone College | St. George's Cross defaced with a Bear and Ragged Staff in the canton. |
See main article: article and Naval Service (United Kingdom).
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 on | 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 Jack in the canton | ||
| 1968 on | A blue ensign defaced with a vertical yellow anchor | |||
| 1974–2008 | A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor with two wavy yellow lines beneath | |||
| 1963 on | A blue ensign defaced with the shield of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service | |||
| Combined Cadet Force Naval Section Ensign | RNR Blue Ensign with CCF Naval Section badge | |||
| Since 1942 | Sea Cadet Corps Ensign | RNR Blue Ensign with SCC badge | ||
| Flag of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom | A fouled anchor on a crimson background | |||
| A dark blue field with unequal horizontal yellow, green and red stripes, and the crest of the Royal Marines. | ||||
| A dark blue field with a fouled anchor, lion and crown. | ||||
| King's Colour for the Royal Navy | A White Ensign defaced in the centre of the cross with a garter of the Order of the Garter encircling the Royal Cypher of King Charles III and surmounted by a Tudor Crown. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A red field defaced with the badge of the British Army. | ||||
| 1838 on | A blue government ensign defaced with the crest of the coat of arms of the Board of Ordnance. | |||
| 1952–2022 | Camp Flag of the Royal Engineers | |||
| 2022 on | Camp Flag of the Royal Engineers | |||
| Ensign of the Royal Logistic Corps for use on vessels commanded by a commissioned officer. | A blue government ensign defaced with the British Army badge of a crown and lion in front of crossed swords. | |||
| Ensign of the Royal Logistic Corps for use on vessels under command of a non-commissioned officer. | A blue government ensign defaced by British Army crossed swords. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 on | A RAF light blue field with the Royal Air Force roundel in the fly with a Union Jack in the canton | |||
| 1945–1996 | Royal Observer Corps Ensign | RAF Ensign with RAF roundel replaced by ROC badge | ||
| Air Training Corps Ensign | RAF Ensign with RAF roundel replaced by ATC badge |
See main article: article, Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) and British Armed Forces.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 on | A dark blue, red and light blue tricolour defaced with the Joint Service badge. A simplified version with the badge in black is also in use. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | |||
| A dark blue, red and light blue horizontal tricolour defaced with a crown and lion. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | ||||
| 1965 on | A dark blue, red and light blue horizontal tricolour with a Union canton and defaced with the badge of the Chief of the Defence Staff. The tricolour is a combination of the colours of the Armed Forces. | |||
| 1971 on | A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the Ministry of Defence Police. |
| Flag | Burgee | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The same as the Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom. | ||||
| Blue Ensign. | ||||
| Blue Ensign. | ||||
| Blue Ensign. | ||||
| Blue Ensign. | ||||
| Blue Ensign. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced with a crown in the middle of the Union Jack. | ||||
| Blue Ensign, defaced with the Conway Castle Badge. | ||||
| Blue Ensign, defaced with the LSC Emblem. | ||||
| The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Poole Yacht Club. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Portsmouth Yacht Club. | ||||
| The blue ensign with a defaced the coat of arms of Jersey. | ||||
| The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. | ||||
| Blue Ensign, defaced with the Prince of Wales's feathers heraldic badge. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced by a Cross pattée, surmounted by the Crown of Scotland. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Gibraltar. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced with a yellow rampant lion. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced in the fly with a yellow shamrock surmounted by a Saint Edward's Crown. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced with the Red Hand of Ulster and St Edward's Crown. | ||||
| The blue ensign defaced in the fly with the White Rose of York surmounted by a Saint Edward's Crown. | ||||
| The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Sussex Yacht Club. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown and a left pointed arrow under the Crown. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with the Coronet of the Duke of Cornwall over the Shield of the Duchy of Cornwall. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown and the letters 'VR' -Victoria Regina. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with a Naval Crown. | ||||
| The red ensign defaced with an anchor and two crossed axes. | ||||
| The red ensign deface with three swords (Essex symbol). | ||||
| The RAF Ensign defaced with an eagle. | ||||
| A green burgee defaced with a red brick chimney outlined in black in the hoist. | ||||
| A black burgee defaced with a gold letter "V". | ||||
| A blue burgee divided by a red cross outlined in white, with a gold ship in the centre. | ||||
| A diagonally divided burgee of seven red and yellow stripes (four red and three yellow) defaced with a black silhouette of a ship on the waves. | ||||
| A white burgee divided by a red Saint George's Cross with the shield from the arms of the Duchy of Cornwall in the canton. | ||||
| A white burgee defaced with a red-and-white fish and surrounded by a blue border. | ||||
| A black burgee divided by a white Saint Piran's Cross, with a black skull and crossbones on a white disc in the centre. | ||||
| A black burgee with the white-coloured initials "PNYC" arranged vertically in the hoist and separated from the rest of the burgee by a vertical white line, and the rest of the burgee divided by a white Saint Piran's Cross with a gold ship's wheel to the upper left of the cross. | ||||
| A blue burgee divided by a white cross, defaced in the centre with a white shield bearing a red saltire. | ||||
| A white burgee with a crimson border, defaced with a white shield containing three black bells (two above and one below) in the hoist, and the black-coloured initials "Q.S.C." in the fly. | ||||
| A blue burgee defaced with a white seashell and surrounded by a white border. | ||||
| A yellow burgee defaced with a black silhouette of a camel. | ||||
| A white-and-red quartered burgee with the shield from the arms of the Duchy of Cornwall in the canton. | ||||
| A dark blue burgee divided by a white cross and defaced with a red diamond in the centre. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 (original version) 1837(removed Hanover arms) | The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (except Scotland) | A banner of the King's Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom | ||
| 1801 (original version) 1837(removed Hanover arms) | The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (only Scotland) | A banner of the King's Arms used in Scotland, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom used in Scotland |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard of the Prince of Wales, used in England and Northern Ireland | A banner of the Coat of Arms of the Prince of Wales, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom defaced with a label of three points. | |||
| 15 golden circles (bezants) on a black field | ||||
| Standard of the Prince of Wales as Duke of Rothesay. | The Royal Banner of Scotland defaced with a label of three points.[21] | |||
| Banner of the Prince of Wales as Duke of Rothesay | Banner of the Duke's Arms, 1st and 4th quarters representing the title of Great Steward of Scotland, the 2nd and 3rd quarters representing the title of Lord of the Isles. In the centre on an inescutcheon the arms of the heir apparent to the King of Scots | |||
| 1962 on | A banner of the Coat of Arms of Wales. In the centre on an inescutcheon the coronet of the Prince of Wales |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 on | Standard of Queen Camilla, consort of Charles III | The Royal Standard that is used for members who do not have their own. | ||
| 2002 on | Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label bearing Escallops in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales | |||
| 1978 on | 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 on | 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 on | 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 | |||
| 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 Tudor Rose | ||||
| 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 on | 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. | |||
| 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. | ||||
| 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 on | 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. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1323 on | A banner of the ancient Royal 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.[22] 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 Jack, defaced with a sword, crowned. | |||
| The Royal Banner of England, with a three-point label, each containing three fleurs-de-lis | ||||
| A banner of the Lord's coat of arms featuring three Lions passant guardant con-joined to these hulls, all in gold |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A gold parliamentary portcullis and coronet (set slightly left of centre) on a field of green. | |||
| A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of HM Customs and Excise | ||||
| Flag of the Senedd Cymru.[23] | White with the logo of the Senedd Cymru in red | |||
| 1998 | Flag of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[24] | White with the logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly in blue | ||
| 2008 | Ensign of the Border Force | A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Border Force | ||
| A blue ensign defaced with the badge of HM Coastguard | ||||
| Ensign used aboard ships of the Scottish Government, such as the patrol boats of the Marine Scotland. | A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the former Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency | |||
| A blue ensign defaced with a lighthouse | ||||
| A White Ensign with a pre-1801 Union Flag in the canton, defaced with a blue lighthouse in the fly, is the only British flag to still use the pre-1801 Union Flag.[25] This flag is only flown from vessels with the Commissioners aboard and from the Headquarters of the NLB, in Edinburgh. | ||||
| A red ensign defaced with a Trinity House Jack | ||||
| The Badge of the Metropolitan Police on a blue background, with white squares at the edge | ||||
| The Blue Ensign, defaced with the Badge of the Metropolitan Police. | ||||
| 1943–1945 1949–1968 | A blue and yellow flag defaced with a Tudor Crown and the letters C.D. | |||
| 2017 | Ensign used aboard ships of the Welsh Government, such as the patrol boats of the Marine and Fisheries Division. | A blue ensign defaced with a yellow dragon |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A dark blue background with the symbol of the Anglican Communion (a compass rose surmounted by a bishop's mitre; in the centre is a cross of St George). The Greek motto, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς ("The truth will set you free") is a quotation from John 8:32. | ||||
| 1999 on | The flag of Saint Patrick is one of two flags authorised for use on Church of Ireland buildings and grounds. The other is that of the Anglican Communion above.[26] | |||
| The flag of Scotland with the burning bush in the centre. | ||||
| 1954 on | A navy blue cross with a celtic cross in the centre. | |||
| Tudor arms between Tudor roses, above Edward the Confessor's arms. | ||||
| A blue flag defaced in the centre with a gold dragon's head pierced by a cross, and a gold crowned portcullis in the canton. | ||||
| 2014 on | The coat of arms of Exeter Cathedral on a field of blue. | |||
| A banner of the Cathedral's coat of arms. | ||||
| The Cross of Saint George defaced with the coat of arms of Worcester Cathedral in the canton. | ||||
| 2013 on | The Cross of Saint George impaled with a blue field defaced with three gold scallop shells of Saint James (two on the left and one on the right). | |||
| Flag of St James Church, Quedgeley[27] | Three gold scallop shells of Saint James (two above and one below) on a field of red. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Union Jack defaced with the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom | ||||
| High commissions fly the Union Jack | ||||
| A Union Jack defaced with the Royal Crown | ||||
| Flag used by British consular officials when embarked in small boats; flag displayed at bow | A Blue Ensign defaced with the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom |
Since 2012 it has been permitted in planning law in England to fly a flag of any British island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village without planning permission as an advertisement.[28] Official bodies such as the Department for Communities and Local Government encourage the use of these flags[29]
Banner of arms (flag form of a coat of arms) have long been used to represent local authority councils and the areas they cover.[30] Some of these include the banners used by Northumberland and Hertfordshire County Councils which before 2012 had already "released" their banners of arms for use as historic county flags, in most cases a historic county flag is derived or (for the two counties) directly adopted.[31]
Community (or civic) flags have also been adopted to cover small areas or places.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consisting of four-quarters containing a red crowned lion passant, a gold cinquefoil, a blue-white checked strip crossed with buckled red belt, and a depiction of the heart of Robert the Bruce to represent the four ancient earldoms of Angus.[32] | ||||
| 1974 on | Flag of Cambridgeshire County Council[33] | Banner of the arms adopted after 1974 with elements from the old Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely CC and Huntingdon and Peterborough CC. | ||
| 12th century | St Piran's Flag – the Flag of Cornwall | A white cross on a black field, formally adopted in 1890 | ||
| Defunct | On the green border are Parnassus flowers (representing Cumberland) interspersed with white roses (Yorkshire) superimposed with red roses (Lancashire). The centre of the shield is made up of segments of blue, white, yellow and green divided by wavy vertical lines and zig-zag horizontal lines. This depicts the new County and from left to right the vertical lines of segments show: blue and white for the sea, blue and yellow (gold) for the lakes and agriculture, green and white for mountains and lakes and green and yellow (gold) for mountains and agriculture. | |||
| 1961, altered for post-1974 reform and transferred to unitary authority in 2009 | A yellow cross on a blue field with lions rampant in each quarter from the Bishopric of Durham's arms, black diamonds on each arm (representing coal and industry) added when the arms was originally adopted with a later change to add a white rose of York on a blue square in centre of the cross (the latter added in 1974 to represent the area of Yorkshire in Teesdale administered by the council).[34] | |||
| 1889, altered for post-1974 reform | Flag of East Sussex[35] | nine golden birds of Sussex on red with a Saxon crown above, white wave later added between the crown and birds. | ||
| Defunct | Adopted by the Greater London Council (1965-1986), this banner of arms is the last official flag of Greater London. The waves are taken from the flag of the former London County Council (1914-1965) and the Saxon crown from the flag of Middlesex. The Greater London Authority (2001-present) uses multiple logo variations but has not officially adopted a flag.[36] | |||
| Defunct | Flag of Greater Manchester[37] | Ten golden castles (arranged in rows of 3-2-3-2) on a red background, fringed by a golden border in the style of a castle battlement. | ||
| 1992 | A gold crown on red above a Lancaster rose on gold, the crown representing the former Saxon kingdom of Wessex and the rose representing England. | |||
| for the 1889 council, re-adopted for post-1996 reformed council | Flag of Herefordshire[38] | |||
| 2008 on | Flag of Hertfordshire | On white and blue a waved background, a Hart reclining on a yellow shield, use of blue and yellow is derived from Saint Alban's Cross. | ||
| 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. | ||||
| 1903, re-adopted for post-1974 reformed council | Red with two full width yellow triangles pointing down and one pointing up, a red rose on each yellow triangle. | |||
| Leicestershire banner of arms | Flag of the historic county of Leicestershire, registered with the Flag Institute on 16 July 2021[39] | |||
| Defunct | Flag of Merseyside[40] | |||
| Flag of Norfolk County Council[41] | Council banner of arms.For County flag see Flag of Norfolk | |||
| 1951 | Flag of Northumberland | Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner.[42] | ||
| Defunct | Flag of South Yorkshire | Red and white waves with one and two half black lozenges to represent coal with white roses to represent Yorkshire. | ||
| Flag of Staffordshire[43] | All the devices on the flag come from arms of various Earls of Stafford. The red chevron on gold was the arms of the de Staffords. It is charged with the family's famous Stafford knot badge. | |||
| Defunct | A blue field with a white turret in the centre to represent Hadrian's wall with a white wavy line above to represent the rivers.[44] | |||
| 1931 on | Flag of Warwickshire[45] – the Bear and Ragged Staff[46] | A silver bear with red muzzle and gold collar and chain supporting a silver ragged staff on a red shield, with three red crosses (each of which has its arms crossed) on a gold band at the top.[47] | ||
| Defunct | Banner of arms of the former county council. The flag has two dancetty barrulets interlaced to form a W and M representing the initials of "West Midlands". | |||
| Flag of West Sussex[48] | Banner of arms of the local authority. Blue and gold flag with six golden martlets. | |||
| Flag of Worcestershire CC[49] | Banner of arms of the local authority. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three White/Grey Castles on a Red Field, taken from the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| A red cross outlined in white on a black field. | ||||
| A heraldic flag derived from the arms of Edinburgh Council.[50] | ||||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| Flag of the City of London (vertical banner) | Vertical banner of the arms of the City of London Corporation. | |||
| Flag of Plymouth (City and Unitary Authority) | Banner of the arms of Plymouth City Council. | |||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. | ||||
| Flag of Shrewsbury | A banner of the town's coat of arms, featuring three leopard faces known locally as loggerheads. | |||
| 2017 | Flag of Southampton[51] | An anchor and Tudor Rose on a red and white background. | ||
| A banner of the city's coat of arms. |
See main article: Flags of cities, towns and villages in the United Kingdom.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A golden heraldic apple tree on blue. | ||||
| 1893 | A red saltire, which divides the flag into four sections: two of them white (top and bottom) and two green (hoist and fly). | |||
| Golden vertical zig-zag offset to hoist dividing blue and red, with a bulls head in the centre. The flag of city as opposed to the banner of the council. | ||||
| Golden circle over green, blue and white stripes. | ||||
| 2018 | Flag of Coventry[52] | Silhouette of Lady Godiva on a white field with two stripes in the traditional shade of Coventry Blue. Updated in 2018 from the 1345 arms flag depicting an Elephant. | ||
| Flag of Craig-y-Dorth (Cwmcarvan) | Two golden wyverns combatant on blue and red, over a golden triangle with a red loaf. . | |||
| Triband of blue, thinner black and white with counterchanged rings over the black-white division and ripples beneath. | ||||
| Three golden cowslips on a green hoist, with a dragon slain by Saint George on the yellow field. | ||||
| Three golden finches with an interlocking pattern of stylised wheat. | ||||
| A white blossom flower on purple and a purple plum on gold divided by a diagonal wavy line. | ||||
| A white saltire on red with a black border with golden bezants. | ||||
| A potter at his wheel counterchanged across a vertical bisection red and white. | ||||
| A white boar with a gold crown on blue. | ||||
| A red cross on a white field, with a red sword in the canton. A banner of the arms of the City of London Corporation. | ||||
| A red rose on a white field. | ||||
| A green triangle with white eight pointed star over black and white hoops. | ||||
| Red and blue quarters with castle, wheatsheaf, swords and teasel with a wavy hoop across the centre. | ||||
| A red saltire on white with blue knot/flowers in each quarter. | ||||
| Crossed keys on a green field with a plain white and wavy blue hoop. | ||||
| A white horse (Pewsey White Horse) on green hills below an oaken crown. | ||||
| Dolphin on wavy black and gold bars below the three scallop shells of St James. | ||||
| A blue cross with white arm centres on white with a paschal lamb in the centre. | ||||
| Flag of St Albans – the Cross of St Alban | A golden saltire on sky blue. | |||
| Flag of St Anne's on Sea (Lytham St Annes) | A white Victorian lifeboat in upper hoist above two golden wavy hoops all over blue. | |||
| A white windmill and plough on blue divided by a white diagonal series of rectangles with a blue Celtic cross in the centre. | ||||
| The Scottish flag defaced in the centre of the saltire with the red lion rampant from the Scottish royal banner, with two caltraps in the upper and lower sections, and two spur-rowels in the left and right sections. | ||||
| A white field with a blue bend, defaced with the coat of arms. | ||||
| A black raven on gold and a white dolphin on blue divided by a diagonal wavy line. | ||||
| Three golden locks on red and a crowned set of golden crossed keys on blue divided by a crenellated vertical line. | ||||
| A golden bird in a golden arch all on blue. | ||||
| A golden cross on green with a two crossed white pipes and a bell in the first quarter. | ||||
| A red cross on blue and fimbriated white with white birds, pick axe, and leaf in the quarters. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 on | Green, with a white Scandinavian Cross showing the ancestry of the people and places names of Barra. The green represents the green of the Barra Isles.[53] | |||
| September 9, 1976 | Flag of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Council of the Western Isles) | Or, on a fess wavy Azure between three lymphads, oars in action, sails furled Sable, flagged Gules, two barrulets wavy Argent. | ||
| 1954–1969 2010 on | A blue flag with a white letter "L" on the hoist side.[54] [55] | |||
| 2007 on | Flag of Orkney[56] [57] | A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field. | ||
| 14 April 2010 | The colours represent the landscape of the area: Portland stone, grass and the sea. The white tower represents the castles and the naval coronet shows the long connection with the Royal Navy.[58] | |||
| February 2002 | The Scillonian Cross | |||
| 2017 on | A green flag bearing a blue Nordic cross fimbriated in white | |||
| 1969 on | A white Nordic cross on a light blue field | |||
| 2020 on | A yellow Hebridean Birlinn in upper hoist above a yellow Nordic Cross on a sky blue field interlaced with a white ring. | |||
| 2009 on | 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 | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of Bangor University[59] | ||||
| A flag diagonally divided by white and red – white in the top and fly, red in the hoist and bottom. | ||||
| Flag of the University of Cambridge[60] | ||||
| A blue saltire on a white field, with a thistle in the upper quarter, a castle in the lower quarter, and an open book in the centre of the saltire. It is a banner of the University's coat of arms. | ||||
| The Cross of Saint George defaced in the centre with the University's coat of arms. | ||||
| An open book with the inscription Dominus Illuminatio Mea (Latin for "The Lord is my light"), surrounded by three golden crowns (two above and one below) on a blue field. | ||||
| Flag of the University of Roehampton[61] | ||||
| A banner of the University's coat of arms. | ||||
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 on | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| A blue ensign with a yellow band across the middle with the words Royal British Legion and the name of the branch. | ||||
| A gold cross on a black field. This is flown in Wales especially on St David's Day. This flag and the St Patrick's flag are not considered national flags but may be flown without special consent.[62] | ||||
| A white cross on a red field. | ||||
| 2021 on | Flag of Saint Augustine of Canterbury[63] | A white cross on a black field with a gold bishop's pallium topped by a small gold cross in the canton. | ||
| A red Saint George's Cross on a white field, defaced in the centre with a blue shield bearing two crossed gold arrows passing through a gold crown. | ||||
| Flag of Saint Peter, Westminster Abbey | Two crossed gold keys beneath a gold ring on a field of red. The symbols represent the two Patron Saints of the Abbey: the ring of Saint Edward the Confessor (founder of the Abbey), and the keys of Saint Peter. | |||
| A white cross on a red field with a white chalice in each quarter. | ||||
| 1878 on | A maroon flag with a blue border defaced by a yellow star with the Salvation Army's motto "Blood & Fire" written on it. | |||
| | Suggested redesigns of the Union Jack, including one with the red dragon from the flag of Wales added in the centre; two variations with the inclusion of yellow from the flag of Saint David; and one with the inclusion of the green element of the flag of Wales. | The current UK flag (the Union Jack) holds symbolism from England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but lacks any symbolism of the only other UK nation in Wales. Therefore, it has been suggested the Union Jack be redesigned to include representation of Wales or a completely new or alternate flag be used.[64] [65] | ||
| 1816 to at least 1935 | British republican flag proposal used within the Chartism movement. | A British republican flag, which originated in 1816, in use until at least 1935.[66] | ||
| The Republican tricolour proposed by Hugh Williams and described in LJ Linton "Spartacus" "Our Tricolour" 1851 poem. |
It is explicitly permitted to fly the flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom without needing any permission or consent.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 on | Flag of East Anglia. | The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty of East Anglia, three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St George's cross . | ||
| c.13th century / 2014 on[67] | Flag of Mercia[68] – the Cross of St Alban | A gold saltire on a blue field; the traditional flag of the Kingdom of Mercia, still flown on Tamworth Castle. | ||
| Ancient | Kingdom of Northumbria North England Modern Northumbria (Northumberland and the county of Durham) | The oldest flag in England. Eight alternating stripes | ||
| 1970s | A gold wyvern on a red field. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 on | Party per pale or and purpure; on a castle triple-towered argent an ancient crown party per pale of the second and first. | |||
| 2014 on | Gules between three lions rampant or a chevron of the second: the attributed arms of Hwfa ap Cynddelw, the traditional badge of the county. | |||
| 2023 on | Orange top half, with the sun in white in the upper hoist, over white and blue stripes and five counter-changed roundels in the form of a railway viaduct. | |||
| 2014 on | Based on the arms of Beauchamp, Barons of Bedford (red and gold) and Russell, Dukes of Bedford (black with 3 scallops). Unlike the old county council banner, the bars wavy are counterchanged per pale. | |||
| 2017 on | Based on the traditional badge of the county: a stag beneath Hearne's Oak. | |||
| 2023 on | A horozontal blue and green bicolour divided in the middle by a white chain, with a leaping silver salmon in the blue section, and a curved gold ear of barley in the green section. | |||
| 2011 on | A red and black field bearing a chained swan: a traditional badge of the county. | |||
| 2012 on | Vert, three eagles displayed in fess Or. | |||
| 2016 on | A Scandinavian cross flag for the county's Norse heritage, with the civic badge of Caithness, a ship with a raven on its sail, in the upper hoist. | |||
| 2015 on | Blue with wavy lines in Cambridge blue, and the three crowns of East Anglia. | |||
| 2013 on | Azure a Sword erect between three Garbs Or | |||
| 12th century | St Piran's Flag – the Flag of Cornwall | A white cross on a black field. | ||
| 2012 on | Based on a banner of the arms of the former Cumberland County Council. | |||
| 2006 on | A green cross with a white border on a sky blue field, with a gold Tudor rose in the centre. | |||
| 2003 on | Flag of Devon – St Petroc's flag | A white cross with a black border on a green field. | ||
| 2008 on | Flag of Dorset[69] – the Dorset Cross alias St Wite's Cross | A white cross with a red border on a gold field. | ||
| 2013 on | Flag of County Durham[70] | A gold and blue horizontal bicolour with St. Cuthbert's Cross countercharged upon it. | ||
| 2018 on | Flag of East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) | A blue field with a gold saltire voided blue; over all a lozenge with a lion rampant. | ||
| Possibly 6th century | A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords (Seaxes). | |||
| 2015 on | Argent, between four Cornish choughs sable a cross engrailed flory of the second. ; the arms attributed to Edwin Tegeingl (Edwin ap Gronwy) | |||
| 12th century | Gules, three Chevronels Argent. | |||
| 2008 on | Flag of Gloucestershire – the Severn Cross | The winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium. | ||
| 2019 on | A gold Saxon crown on a red field above a Tudor rose on a gold field. | |||
| 2019 on | On a dark red background, a white bull's head above three wavy lines, ordered white-blue-white. | |||
| 2008 on | On a waved background, a Hart reclining on a yellow shield – a flag displayed on the crest of the county arms | |||
| 2009 on | On a green background, a gold, ribboned hunting horn – a flag displayed on the crest of the county arms | |||
| 1605 on | Flag of Kent[71] | A red field with the white horse of Kent. | ||
| 2016 on | A green and white quartered field bearing the Cross of St Cuthbert (from whom the county is named). | |||
| 2008 on | The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow field. | |||
| 2021 on | Per fess dancetty gules and argent, a cinquefoil pierced ermine above a fox gules. | |||
| 2005 on | Quarterly Vert and Azure, on a Cross Gules fimbriated Or a Fleur-de-Lis of the last. | |||
| 2015 on | Azure, three goats rampant Argent, armed and unguled Or; from the dexter base the sun in his splendour issuant Or. | |||
| 1910 | A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes under a gold Saxon crown. | |||
| 2011 on | Per pale Azure and Sable three Fleurs-de-lis Or. | |||
| 2023 on | A green strip in the hoist bearing a gold wheatsheaf; orange over blue with a wavy division. | |||
| 2014 on | Party per pale or and sable, a bend ermine; the attributed arms of Ralph de Gael or Guader, 1st Earl of Norfolk | |||
| 2014 on | Maroon with a gold cross fimbriated black, and in the centre the county's traditional rose.[72] | |||
| 1951 | Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner. | |||
| 2011 on | A red cross fimbriated white on a green field, with an inescutcheon in the centre showing Robin Hood. | |||
| 2007 on | A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field. | |||
| 2017 on | The arms of the pre-1974 County Council: blue with a red ox head on a double bend wavy, between a wheatsheaf and an oak. | |||
| 1988 on | A yellow cross on a blue field with a variation of the red and white Tudor rose in the centre. | |||
| 2015 on | A green field strewn with acorns and a golden horseshoe in the centre. | |||
| 1969 on | A white Nordic cross on a light blue field. | |||
| 2012 on | Three leopards' faces, referred to as loggerheads locally, are a traditional emblem for Shropshire and its county town, Shrewsbury. The erminois aspect differentiates the county flag with that of Shrewsbury. | |||
| 2013 on | Or, a Dragon Rampant Gules. | |||
| 2016 on | A red chevron on gold, with the Stafford knot. | |||
| 2017 on | A Saxon crown pierced with two arrows: the traditional emblem of St Edmund, and of Suffolk. | |||
| 2014 on | Chequy or and azure (De Warrenne, the first Earls of Surrey) – the traditional emblem of the county. | |||
| 2010 on | Flag of Sussex – Saint Richard's Flag | Based on the traditional emblem of Sussex; Six gold martlets on a Blue field, first recorded in 1611 and used by many Sussex organisations. | ||
| December 2018 on | White with a black saltire intersecting a black Scandinavian cross, a sun figure in the centre. This design won a local competition, replacing a previous winner (a swooping eagle counterchanged against a vertical bicoloured red and yellow background, with three mullets at the hoist).[73] | |||
| August 2016 on | A bear and ragged staff (the badge of the Earls of Warwick) which has become a symbol of the county, white on red. | |||
| 2011 on | A golden heraldic apple tree on white and red bars. | |||
| 2009 on | 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. [74] Accepted by Wiltshire Council in December 2009[75] | |||
| 2013 on | Three black pears on a shield charged against a wavy green and blue background. | |||
| 1960s on | A White Rose on a blue field. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 on | Flag of the East Riding of Yorkshire[76] | Per pale Azure and Vert, an inverted rose Argent. | ||
| 2013 on | Flag of the North Riding of Yorkshire[77] | Vert a cross azure fimbriated or, a rose argent | ||
| 2013 on | Flag of the West Riding of Yorkshire[78] |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 on | Flag of the Black Country[79] | Per pall reversed Sable, Gules and Argent a pall reversed Argent over all an inverted chevron of chain counterchanged Argent, Sable, Argent. | ||
| 2017 on | Three gold ships' hulls on a blue field. | |||
| 2014 on | Flag of Exmoor[80] | A purple field as the main base with violet and green waves separated by parallel white lines underneath. A white stag and star holds the top left corner. Exmoor remains the only moorland with its own flag to this day. [81] |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929–1973 | Ensign of the former Northern Ireland government. | The blue ensign defaced with the letters GNI. Used on vessels of the Northern Ireland government. | ||
| 1924–1972 | The Ulster Banner – Flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972 and still used to represent Northern Ireland in some sporting events in which Northern Ireland competes. The flag is particularly associated with the loyalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland. | 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. | ||
| 1707–1801 | First version of the Union Jack used in England from 1606 and Scotland from 1707 – the Flags of England and Scotland superimposed. | |||
| 17th century | Scottish Union Flag variant[82] [83] [84] [85] | |||
| 1783–1922 | Saint Patrick's Saltire, also known as St Patrick's Cross, 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 Jack 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 | ||
| Until 1707 | 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 Jack. (This was the flag flown over the Thirteen Colonies before the American Revolution) | ||
| 1707–1801 | White Ensign of Great Britain | The White Ensign with the first version of the Union Jack. | ||
| 1707–1801 | Blue Ensign of Great Britain | The Blue Ensign with the first version of the Union Jack. | ||
| 1649–1651 | 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 | The 1606 Union Jack defaced with an Irish Harp. | |||
| 1925–1936 | King's Colour for the Royal Navy | A White Ensign defaced in the centre of the cross with a garter of the Order of the Garter encircling the Royal Cypher of King George V and surmounted by a Tudor Crown. | ||
| 1936–1952 | King's Colour for the Royal Navy | A White Ensign defaced in the centre of the cross with a garter of the Order of the Garter encircling the Royal Cypher of King George VI and surmounted by a Tudor Crown. | ||
| 1952–2022 | Queen's Colour for the Royal Navy | A White Ensign defaced in the centre of the cross with a garter of the Order of the Garter encircling the Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II and surmounted by a Saint Edward's Crown. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1198–1340 | Gules, three lions passant regardant in pale or. | |||
| 1340–1395 1399–1406 | 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. | |||
| 1395–1399 | The Coat of Arms of England impaled with attributed Arms of King Edward The Confessor (symbolising mystical union). | |||
| 1406–1422 1461–1470 1471–1554 1558–1603 | The French quartering has been altered to three fleurs-de-lys. | |||
| 1422–1461 1470–1471 | The Coat of Arms of France impaled with the Coat of Arms of England. | |||
| 1554–1558 | The Coat of Arms of Habsburg Spain impaled with the Coat of Arms of England. | |||
| 1603–1649 1660–1689 1702–1707 | 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). | |||
| 1689–1694 | A banner of the joint Royal Coat of Arms of William III and Mary II, consisting of the Coat of Arms of England defaced with an inescutcheon for the House of Nassau (representing William) and impaled with another undefaced version of the same Coat of Arms (representing Mary). | |||
| 1694–1702 | Royal Standard of King William III and II | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of William III, first and fourth quarters representing England and the English claim to the French throne, second quarter representing Scotland, third quarter representing Ireland, with an inescutcheon for the House of Nassau. | ||
| 1707–1714 | 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 British claim to the French throne, third quarter representing Ireland. | |||
| 1714–1801 | Royal Standard of Great Britain under the House of Hanover from 1714 to 1801 | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Great Britain, first quarter representing England and Scotland, second quarter representing the British claim to the French throne, third quarter representing Ireland, fourth quarter representing the Electorate of Hanover. | ||
| 1801–1816 | Royal Standard of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1816 | A banner of the Royal Arms from the creation of the United Kingdom on 1 January 1801; first and fourth quarters for England and Wales, second Scotland, third Ireland, with an inescutcheon for the Electorate of Hanover. | ||
| 1816–1837 | Royal Standard of the House of Hanover from 1816 to 1837 | The Royal Arms after Hanover had become a kingdom. | ||
| 1960–2022 | Personal Flag of Elizabeth II, used by the Queen in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth | A crowned letter 'E' in gold, surrounded by a garland of gold roses on a blue background. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952–2021 | 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. | |||
| 1936–2002 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of the Earl of Strathmore: ("bows" and "lions"). | |||
| 1910–1953 | 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 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of the King of Denmark. | |||
| 1840–1861 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom defaced with a three-point label (with the second point charged with the Cross of St. George), quartered with the arms of Saxony. | |||
| 1830–1849 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816–1837) impaled with the arms of her father, Duke Georg I of Saxe-Meiningen. | |||
| 1820–1821 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816–1837) impaled with the arms of her father, Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick. | |||
| 1816–1818 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816–1837) impaled with the arms of her father, Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. | |||
| 1801–1816 | The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1801–1816) impaled with the arms of her father, Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. | |||
| 1761–1801 | The Royal Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714–1801) impaled with the arms of her father, Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. | |||
| 1727–1737 | The Royal Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714–1801) impaled with the arms of her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. |
| 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 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 ap Gruffudd and Owain Lawgoch. The 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 | Argent three Lions passant Gules | |||
| c. 1160 – c. 1350 | Argent a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13th century | Banner known as Welsh: Y Groes Nawdd or "The Cross of Neith" said to have been the battle flag of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (d. 1282) | Purpure a celtic cross Or | ||
| –1416 | Banner known as the Welsh: Y Ddraig Aur or 'Golden Dragon' which has ancient origins. It was famously raised over Welsh: [[Caernarfon]]|italic=no during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 by Welsh: [[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no | Argent a dragon rampant Or |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pre–2007 | Unofficial flag of Orkney | A red Nordic cross on a yellow field (the Cross of Saint Magnus). It was denied formal recognition by the Lord Lyon in 2001, due to similarity with other national flags, as well as the flag of the former Kalmar Union. | ||
| pre–2008 | Unofficial flag of Lancashire | The Red Rose of Lancashire on a white field. It was denied registration by the Flag Institute, due to being almost identical to the already registered flag of the town of Montrose, Angus. | ||
| 2018 | Flag of Sutherland | A swooping eagle, seen face on, against a vertical bicoloured red and yellow background, with the eagle counterchanged yellow and red; At the hoist three stars or mullets. Was originally unveiled as the Flag of Sutherland in February 2018, but was placed on hold due to backlash from residents. A public vote beginning in October 2018 led to the retirement of this flag in favour of the current design. |
Michelle Henderson in The Press and Journal, Saturday, 15 December 2018