List of United Kingdom flags

The Union Flag, the national flag of the United Kingdom

County flags flying in Parliament Square, London

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]

Flags recognised by planning law[]

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 Her Majesty’s Forces; and the Armed Forces Day flag.^[4]

List of UK flags
English flags
Northern Irish flags
Scottish flags
Welsh flags
Cornish flags
Gibraltarian flags
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha flags
Turks and Caicos Islands flags
Royal Standards
Former British Empire

Current national flags[]

National and subnational flags of the United Kingdom.^[5]

United Kingdom[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description	Status
	since 1801	The Union Flag, also commonly known as the Union Jack.[6] Used as the flag of the United Kingdom	A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing Ireland).	National flag used by government and civilian population.
				Vertical national flag used by government and civilian population.

Countries of the United Kingdom[]

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.
	1953–1972; unofficial since 1972	Northern Ireland has no official nor universally accepted flag		The national flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Jack.[8] The Ulster Banner portrayed is from the former coat of arms of Northern Ireland and was the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972. Since 1972 this flag has continued to be used for want of another distinctive flag, almost exclusively amongst the Unionist community.
	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.
	1959 on (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]

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (Crown dependencies)[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1993 on	Flag of Alderney	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	Flag of Guernsey	A red cross on a white field (St George's Cross).
	1985 on	Flag of Guernsey	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 on	Civil Ensign of Guernsey	A red ensign with a Gold Cross.
	1985 on	State Ensign of Guernsey	A blue ensign with a Gold Cross.
	c.1950–1953	Flag of Herm	A dark blue field with the arms of Guernsey in the hoist and the words "HERM ISLAND" beneath it.
	c.1953 on	Flag of Herm	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 on	Flag of the Isle of Man	A triskelion on a red field.
	1971 on	Civil Ensign of the Isle of Man	A red ensign with a triskelion.
	before 1981	Flag of Jersey	A red saltire on a white field.
	1981 on	Flag of Jersey	A red saltire on a white field defaced with the island's badge
	2010 on	Civil Ensign of Jersey	A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Jersey on.
	1907 on	Government Ensign of Jersey	A blue ensign with the arms of Jersey.
	1938 on	Flag of Sark	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.

British Overseas Territories[]

In 1999, the maritime flags of the British Overseas Territories were updated at the request of the Ministry of Defence.^{[citation needed]} 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 on	Anguilla	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 on	Ascension Island, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Ascension Island
	1999 on	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 on	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 on	British Indian Ocean Territory	A blue ensign with white wavy lines, defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
	1960 on	British Virgin Islands	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 on	Cayman Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of 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 Cayman Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign.
	1999 on	Falkland Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of 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 Falkland Islands. Used on land and as the civil ensign.
	1982 on	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 on		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 on		A red ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. Used as the civil ensign for locally registered vessel.
	1958 on	Montserrat	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Montserrat
	1984 on	Pitcairn Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands
	1984 on	Saint Helena, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Saint Helena
	1985 on	South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
	2002 on	Tristan da Cunha, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Tristan da Cunha
	1968 on	Turks and Caicos Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Turks and Caicos Islands
			A red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Turks and Caicos Islands

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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1990 on	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 on	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 on	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 on	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 on	Personal flag of the Governor of the Cayman Islands	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands
	1948 on	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, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	A Union Flag defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Helena
	1999 on	Personal flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
	2002 on	Personal flag of the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha. The Administrator is subservient to the Governor of Saint Helena
	Before 2011	Personal flag of the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands	A Union jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Ensigns[]

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 sometime) Captain of Merchant Navy Ship – e.g., RMS Queen Mary	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	Red Ensign, used by the Merchant Navy	A red field, with a Union Jack in the canton
		Civil Jack	A Union Jack with a white border
	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
		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.

Naval Service[]

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	Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary	A blue ensign defaced with a vertical yellow anchor
	1974–2008	Ensign of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service	A blue ensign defaced with a horizontal yellow anchor with two wavy yellow lines beneath
	1963 on	Ensign of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service	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
		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
		Flag of the Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines	A dark blue field with unequal horizontal yellow, green and red stripes, and the crest of the Royal Marines.
		Flag of the Commandant General Royal Marines	A dark blue field with a fouled anchor, lion and crown.

Army[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Non-Ceremonial Flag of the British Army	A red field defaced with the badge of the British Army.
	1838 on	Ensign of the Corps of Royal Engineers	A blue government ensign defaced with the crest of the coat of arms of the Board of Ordnance.
		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.

Air Force[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1921 on	Royal Air Force Ensign	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

Combined Forces[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1956 on	Flag of the Joint Services	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.
		Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence	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	Flag of the Chief of the Defence Staff	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	Ensign of the Ministry of Defence Police	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the Ministry of Defence Police.

Yacht club ensigns[]

Flag	Burgee	Use	Description
		Ensign of the Royal Yacht Squadron	The same as the Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.
		Ensign of the Royal Naval Sailing Association	Blue Ensign.
		Ensign of the	Blue Ensign.
		Ensign of the Royal Southern Yacht Club	Blue Ensign.
		Ensign of the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club	Blue Ensign.
		Ensign of the Royal Thames Yacht Club	Blue Ensign.
		Ensign of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club	The blue ensign defaced with a crown in the middle of the Union Jack.
		Ensign of the HMS Conway Cruising Association Ensign	Blue Ensign, defaced with the Conway Castle Badge.
		Ensign of the Little Ship Club	Blue Ensign, defaced with the LSC Emblem.
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Poole Yacht Club.
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign with a defaced the coat of arms of Jersey.
		Ensign of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club	The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.
		Ensign of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club	Blue Ensign, defaced with the .
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign defaced by a Cross pattée, surmounted by the Crown of Scotland.
		Ensign of the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club	The blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Gibraltar.
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign defaced with a yellow rampant lion.
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Portsmouth Yacht Club.
		Ensign of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club	The blue ensign defaced with the Red Hand of Ulster and St Edward's Crown.
		Ensign of the	The blue ensign with a defaced with the emblem of Sussex Yacht Club.
		Ensign of the
		Ensign of the Royal Dart Yacht Club.	The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown and a left pointed arrow under the Crown.
		Ensign of the Royal Fowey Yacht Club	The red ensign defaced with the Coronet of the Duke of Cornwall over the Shield of the Duchy of Cornwall.
		Ensign of Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club
		Ensign of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club
		Ensign of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club (England)	The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown and the letters 'VR' -Victoria Regina.
		Ensign of the Royal Windermere Yacht Club	The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown.
		Ensign of the Royal Yacht Association	The red ensign defaced with a Naval Crown.
		Ensign of the	The red ensign defaced with an anchor and two crossed axes.
		Ensign of the West Mersea Yacht Club.	The red ensign deface with three swords (Essex symbol).
		Ensign of the	The RAF Ensign defaced with an eagle.

Royal Standards[]

Queen Elizabeth II[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1837 on	The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (except Scotland)	A banner of the Queen's Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
	1837 on	The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (only Scotland)	A banner of the Queen's Arms used in Scotland, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom used in Scotland
	1952 on	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

Standards and banners of the Prince of Wales[]

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. In the centre on an inescutcheon, ensigned with a representation of the coronet of the Prince of Wales, the Coat of arms of Wales.
		Standard of the Prince of Wales as Duke of Cornwall	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	Banner of the Prince of Wales, used in Wales	A banner of the Coat of Arms of Wales. In the centre on an inescutcheon the coronet of the Prince of Wales

Other members of the Royal Family[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2000 on	Standard of The Duke of Cambridge	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 an Escallop in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales
	2002 on	Standard of The Duke of Sussex	Banner of the Duke'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 on	Standard of 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 on	Standard of 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 on	Standard of 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 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 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 on	Standard of 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 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 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 on	Standard of 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.

Others[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1323 on	The Royal Banner of Scotland	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.
		Standard of the Duchy of Lancaster	The Royal Banner 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

Government[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Ensign of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs	A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of HM Customs and Excise
	1998	The flag of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
	2008	Ensign of the Border Force	A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Border Force
		Ensign of Her Majesty's Coastguard	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
		Ensign of the Commissioners of the Northern Lights	A blue ensign defaced with a lighthouse
		Northern Lighthouse Board Commissioners Flag	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.[23] This flag is only flown from vessels with the Commissioners aboard and from the Headquarters of the NLB, in Edinburgh.
		Ensign of Trinity House	A red ensign defaced with a Trinity House Jack
		Flag of the Metropolitan Police	The Badge of the Metropolitan Police on a blue background, with white squares at the edge
		Ensign of the Metropolitan Police	The Blue Ensign, defaced with the Badge of the Metropolitan Police.
	1943–1945, 1949–1968	Flag of the Civil Defence Service/Civil Defence Corps	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

Church[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Anglican Communion	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, Ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς ("The truth will set you free") is a quotation from John 8:32.
	1999 on	Flag used by the Church of Ireland	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.[24]
		Flag of the Church of Scotland	The flag of Scotland with the burning bush in the centre.
		Flag of Westminster Abbey	Tudor arms between Tudor roses, above Edward the Confessor's arms.
		Flag of the Church in Wales	A navy blue cross with a celtic cross in the centre.

Diplomatic flags[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag used by British Embassies	A Union Jack defaced with the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
		Flag used by British High Commissions	High commissions fly the Union Jack
		Flag used by British consulates and consulates-general	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 with the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

Islands[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2017 on	Flag of the Isle of Barra	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.[25]
		Flag of the Outer Hebrides
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[26][27]	A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field.
	14 April 2010	Flag of the Isle of Portland (Registered by the Flag Institute)[28]	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.[29]
	February 2002	Flag of the Isles of Scilly[26]	The Scillonian Cross
	2017 on	Flag of South Uist[26][27]	A green flag bearing a blue Nordic cross fimbriated in white
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland[26][27]	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field
	2020 on	Flag of the Isle of Skye[26][27]	A yellow Hebridean Birlinn in upper hoist above a yellow Nordic Cross on a sky blue field interlaced with a white ring.
	2009 on	Flag of the Isle of Wight[26]	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.

Local government areas[]

Flags are often used to represent counties, cities and towns. Where these are based on a council's banner of arms they are technically for the use of the council, but they are often used to represent the wider area,^[30] including by official bodies such as the Department for Communities and Local Government.^[31] Northumberland and Hertfordshire County Councils have "released" their banners of arms for use as county flags.^[32] 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.^[33]

Counties[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Angus	A heraldic flag derived from the arms of Angus Council, 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.[34]
	1974 on	Flag of Cambridgeshire[35]	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[26]	A white cross on a black field, formally adopted in 1890
		Flag of Cumbria[31]	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 on	Flag of Durham County Council	Local authority flag. A yellow cross on a blue field with lions rampant in each quarter, the centre of the cross is broken with a white rose of York (added in 1974 to represent the area of Yorkshire in Teesdale administered by the council) and black diamonds on each arm (representing coal and industry). Flag modified from the arms of the Bishopric of Durham[36]
		Flag of East Sussex[37]	A variation on the arms attributed to the Kingdom of Sussex.
	2020	Flag of Greater London	The current flag was adopted in 2020 by the Greater London Authority, replacing an earlier design adopted in 2000. Other flags were previously used officially between 1965 and 1984 by the Greater London Council and the County of London between 1889 and 1965. Both were based on the coats of arms of those councils.[38]
	Unofficial	Flag of Greater Manchester[39]	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.
	12 March 2019	Flag of Hampshirereg	A gold Saxon crown above a Tudor rose over a field of red and gold representing the former Saxon kingdom of Wessex.
	2019	Flag of Herefordshire[40]
	2008 on	Flag of Hertfordshire[26]	On a waved background, a Hart reclining on a yellow shield – a flag displayed on the crest of the county arms
	2009 on	Flag of the Isle of Wight[26]	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 Leicestershire	Flag of the historic county of Leicestershire, registered with the Flag Institute on 16 July 2021[41]
		Flag of Merseyside[42]	Banner of arms of the former county council.
		Flag of Norfolk[43]	Banner of council arms
	1951	Flag of Northumberland[26]	Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner (below).[44]
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[26][27]	A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field.
		Flag of Rutland
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland[26][27]	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field
	Unofficial	Flag of South Yorkshire[45]	The Flag of South Yorkshire has an upper green section and a lower blue section separated by a white wavy line. To the fly there is a Yorkshire rose with the letters S&Y underneath.[46]
		Flag of Staffordshire[47]	Banner of arms of the local authority. 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.
		Flag of Tyne and Wear[45]	The flag of Tyne and Wear has a blue field with a white turret in the centre. Towards the top of the flag there is a white wavy line.[48]
	1931 on	Flag of Warwickshire[49] – the Bear and Ragged Staff[50]	A banner based on the County Coat of Arms. 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.[51]
		Flag of the West Midlands[45]	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[52]	Banner of arms of the local authority. Blue and gold flag with six golden martlets.
		Flag of Worcestershire CC[53]	Banner of arms of the local authority.

Cities, towns and villages[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Aberdeen[30]	Three White/Grey Castles on a Red Field, taken from the city's coat of arms.
		Flag of Appleby-in-Westmorland	A golden heraldic apple tree on blue. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[54]
		Flag of Belfast[30]	A banner of the city's coat of arms. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[55]
	1893	Flag of Bexhill-on-Sea	A red saltire, which divides the flag into four sections: two of them white (top and bottom) and two green (hoist and fly). (Registered by the Flag Institute)[56]
		Flag of Birmingham[30]	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[57]
		Flag of Cardiff	A banner of the city's coat of arms. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[58]
		Flag of Calne	Golden circle over green, blue and white stripes. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[59]
		Flag of Craig-y-Dorth (Cwmcarvan)	Two golden wyverns combatant on blue and red, over a golden triangle with a red loaf. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[60].
		Flag of Digbeth	Triband of blue, thinner black and white with counterchanged rings over the black-white division and ripples beneath. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[61]
		Flag of Durham[30]	A red cross outlined in white on a black field.
		Flag of Edinburgh[30]	A heraldic flag derived from the arms of Edinburgh Council.[62] (Registered by the Flag Institute)[63]
		Flag of Evenley	Three golden cowslips on a green hoist, with a dragon slain by Saint George on the yellow field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[64]
		Flag of Finchfield	Three golden finches with an interlocking pattern of stylised wheat. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[65]
		Flag of Flore	A white blossom flower on purple and a purple plum on gold divided by a diagonal wavy line. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[66]
		Flag of Hampton Poyle	A white saltire on red with a black border with golden bezants. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[67]
		Flag of Horningsea	A potter at his wheel counterchanged across a vertical bisection red and white. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[68]
		Flag of Kingswinford	A white boar with a gold crown on blue. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[69]
		Flag of Lincoln[30]	A banner of the city's coat of arms.
		Flag of the City of London[30]	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[70]
		Flag of the City of London (vertical banner)	Vertical banner of the arms of the City of London Corporation.
		Flag of Nenthead	A green triangle with white eight pointed star over black and white hoops. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[71]
		Flag of Newbury	Red and blue quarters with castle, wheatsheaf, swords and teasel with a wavy hoop across the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[72]
		Flag of Penrith	A red saltire on white with blue knot/flowers in each quarter. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[73]
		Flag of Petersfield	Crossed keys on a green field with a plain white and wavy blue hoop. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[74]
		Flag of Pewsey	A white horse (Pewsey White Horse) on green hills below an oaken crown. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[75]
		Flag of Plymouth (City and Unitary Authority)	Banner of the arms of Plymouth City Council.
		Flag of Poole	Dolphin on wavy black and gold bars below the three scallop shells of St James. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[76]
		Flag of Portsmouth[30]	A banner of the city's coat of arms.
		Flag of Preston	A blue cross with white arm centres on white with a paschal lamb in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[77]
		Flag of St Albans[30] – 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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[78]
		Flag of Shrewsbury	A banner of the town's coat of arms, featuring three leopard faces known locally as loggerheads.
		Flag of Staining, Lancashire	A white windmill and plough on blue divided by a white diagonal series of rectangles with a blue Celtic cross in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[79]
		Flag of the stannary town of Tavistock	A white field with a blue bend, defaced with the coat of arms.
		Flag of Tywyn	A black raven on gold and a white dolphin on blue divided by a diagonal wavy line. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[80]
		Flag of Willenhall	Three golden locks on red and a crowned set of golden crossed keys on blue divided by a crenellated vertical line. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[81]
		Flag of Wing, Buckinghamshire	A golden bird in a golden arch all on blue. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[82]
		Flag of Wreay	A golden cross on green with a two crossed white pipes and a bell in the first quarter. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[83]
		Flag of Wroxton	A red cross on blue and fimbriated white with white birds, pick axe, and leaf in the quarters. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[84]
		Flag of York[30]	A banner of the city's coat of arms.

Miscellaneous[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Unofficial Cornish ensign	The flag of Cornwall (a white cross on a black field), with the Union Jack in the canton.
		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
		Flag of the St John Ambulance Brigade
		A Branch Standard of the Royal British Legion	A blue ensign with a yellow band across the middle with the words Royal British Legion and the name of the branch
		Flag of Saint David	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.[85]
	1878 on	Flag of the Salvation Army	A maroon flag with a blue border defaced by a yellow star with the Salvation Army's motto "Blood & Fire" written on it
		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.
		Flag of the Friends of the British Overseas Territories

Historical and informal areas[]

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.^[33]

Historic kingdoms and regions[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2012 on	Flag of the Black Country[26][86]	Per pall reversed Sable, Gules and Argent a pall reversed Argent over all an inverted chevron of chain counterchanged Argent, Sable, Argent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[87]
	1900 on	Flag of East Anglia.[26]	The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty of East Anglia, three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St George's cross (Registered by the Flag Institute)[88].
		Flag of Mercia[89] – 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.
	1970s	Flag of Wessex[26]	A gold wyvern on a red field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[90]

Historic counties[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2014 on	Flag of Anglesey	Gules between three lions rampant or a chevron of the second: the attributed arms of Hwfa ap Cynddelw, the traditional badge of the county. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[91]
	2014 on	Flag of Bedfordshire	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[92]
	2017 on	Flag of Berkshire	Based on the traditional badge of the county: a stag beneath Hearne's Oak. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[93]
	2011 on	Flag of Buckinghamshire	A red and black field bearing a chained swan: a traditional badge of the county. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[94](Chosen in a BBC competition)[95]
	2012 on	Flag of Caernarfonshire	Vert, three eagles displayed in fess Or. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[96]
	2016 on	Flag of Caithness	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[97](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[98]
	2015 on	Flag of Cambridgeshire	Blue with wavy lines in Cambridge blue, and the three crowns of East Anglia. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[99](Chosen by competition)[100]
	2013 on	Flag of Cheshire	Azure a Sword erect between three Garbs Or (Registered by the Flag Institute)[101]
	12th century	St Piran's Flag – the Flag of Cornwall	A white cross on a black field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[102]
	2012 on	The Flag of Cumberland	Based on a banner of the arms of the former Cumberland County Council.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[103]
	2006 on	Flag of Derbyshire	A green cross with a white border on a sky blue field, with a gold Tudor rose in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[104](Chosen in a BBC competition)[105]
	2003 on	Flag of Devon – St Petroc's flag	A white cross with a black border on a green field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[106](Chosen by competition)[107]
	2008 on	Flag of Dorset[108] – the Dorset Cross alias St Wite's Cross	A white cross with a red border on a gold field.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[109](Chosen by competition)[110]
	2013 on	Flag of County Durham[111]	A gold and blue horizontal bicolour with St. Cuthbert's Cross countercharged upon it. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[112](Chosen by competition)[113]
	2018 on	Flag of East Lothian (Haddingtonshire)	A blue field with a gold saltire voided blue; over all a lozenge with a lion rampant. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[114](Chosen by competition)[115]
	Possibly 6th century	Flag of Essex	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords (Seaxes). (Registered by the Flag Institute)[116]
	2015 on	Flag of Flintshire	Argent, between four Cornish choughs sable a cross engrailed flory of the second. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[117]; the arms attributed to Edwin Tegeingl (Edwin ap Gronwy)
	12th century	Flag of Glamorgan	Gules, three Chevronels Argent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[118]
	2008 on	Flag of Gloucestershire – the Severn Cross	The winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[119](Chosen by competition)[120]
	2019 on	Flag of Hampshire	A gold Saxon crown on a red field above a Tudor rose on a gold field.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[121]
	2019 on	Flag of Herefordshire	On a dark red background, a white bull's head above three wavy lines, ordered white-blue-white.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[122]
	2008 on	Flag of Hertfordshire	On a waved background, a Hart reclining on a yellow shield – a flag displayed on the crest of the county arms(Registered by the Flag Institute)[123]A banner of the council's arms[124]
	2009 on	Flag of Huntingdonshire	On a green background, a gold, ribboned hunting horn – a flag displayed on the crest of the county arms (Registered by the Flag Institute)[125]
	1605 on	Flag of Kent[126]	A red field with the white horse of Kent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[127]
	2016 on	Flag of Kirkcudbrightshire	A green and white quartered field bearing the Cross of St Cuthbert (from whom the county is named). (Registered by the Flag Institute)[128](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[129]
	2008 on	Flag of Lancashire	The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[130]
	2021 on	Flag of Leicestershire	Per fess dancetty gules and argent, a cinquefoil pierced ermine above a fox gules. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[131]
	2005 on	Flag of Lincolnshire	Quarterly Vert and Azure, on a Cross Gules fimbriated Or a Fleur-de-Lis of the last. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[132](Chosen in a BBC competition)[133]
	2015 on	Flag of Merionethshire	Azure, three goats rampant Argent, armed and unguled Or; from the dexter base the sun in his splendour issuant Or. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[134]
	1910	Flag of Middlesex	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes under a gold Saxon crown. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[135]
	2011 on	Flag of Monmouthshire	Per pale Azure and Sable three Fleurs-de-lis Or. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[136]
	2014 on	Flag of Norfolk	Party per pale or and sable, a bend ermine; the attributed arms of Ralph de Gael or Guader, 1st Earl of Norfolk (Registered by the Flag Institute)[137]
	2014 on	Flag of Northamptonshire	Maroon with a gold cross fimbriated black, and in the centre the county's traditional rose.[138] (Registered by the Flag Institute)[139](Chosen by competition)[140]
	1951	Flag of Northumberland	Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner (below). (Registered by the Flag Institute)[141]
	2011 on	Flag of Nottinghamshire	A red cross fimbriated white on a green field, with an inescutcheon in the centre showing Robin Hood. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[142](Chosen in a BBC competition)[143]
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[26][27]	A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[144](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[145]
	2017 on	Flag of Oxfordshire	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[146]
	1988 on	Flag of Pembrokeshire	A yellow cross on a blue field with a variation of the red and white Tudor rose in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[147]
	2015 on	Flag of Rutland	A green field strewn with acorns and a golden horseshoe in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[148]
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[149](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[150]
	2012 on	Flag of Shropshire	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[151]A banner of the council's arms[152]
	2013 on	Flag of Somerset	Or, a Dragon Rampant Gules. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[153](Chosen by competition)[154]
	2016 on	Flag of Staffordshire	A red chevron on gold, with the Stafford knot.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[155](Chosen by competition)[156]
	2017 on	Flag of Suffolk	A Saxon crown pierced with two arrows: the traditional emblem of St Edmund, and of Suffolk.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[157]
	2014 on	County Flag of Surrey	Chequy or and azure (De Warrenne, the first Earls of Surrey) – the traditional emblem of the county.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[158]
	2010 on	Flag of Sussex – Saint Richard's Flag[26]	Based on the traditional emblem of Sussex; Six gold martlets on a Blue field, first recorded in 1611 and used by many Sussex organisations. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[159]
	December 2018 on	Flag of Sutherland	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).[160] (Registered by the Flag Institute)[161]
	August 2016 on	Flag of Warwickshire	A bear and ragged staff (the badge of the Earls of Warwick) which has become a symbol of the county, white on red. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[162]
	2011 on	Flag of Westmorland	A golden heraldic apple tree on white and red bars. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[163]
	2009 on	Flag of Wiltshire	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. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[164][165] Accepted by Wiltshire Council in December 2009[166]
	2013 on	Flag of Worcestershire	Three black pears on a shield charged against a wavy green and blue background. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[167](Chosen in a BBC competition)[168]
	1960s on	Flag of Yorkshire	A White Rose on a blue field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[169]

Yorkshire ridings[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2013 on	Flag of the East Riding of Yorkshire[170]	Per pale Azure and Vert, an inverted rose Argent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[171](Chosen by competition)[172]
	2013 on	Flag of the North Riding of Yorkshire[173]	Vert a cross azure fimbriated or, a rose argent (Registered by the Flag Institute)[174](Chosen by competition)[175]
	2013 on	Flag of the West Riding of Yorkshire[176]	(Registered by the Flag Institute)[177](Chosen by competition)[178]

Historical flags[]

National flags and ensigns[]

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.
	1953–1972	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.
	1606–1801	Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain (From 1707)	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	Scottish Union Flag variant[179][180][181][182]
	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	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 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	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.

Lord Protector's standard[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1653–1659	Standard of the Lord Protector	The cross of St. George quartered with the cross of St. Andrew and the Irish Harp, and surmounted by an escutcheon with Cromwell's personal coat of arms.

Royal standards[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1198–1340	Royal Banner of King Richard I	Gules, three lions passant regardant in pale or.
	1340–1395, 1399–1406	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.
	1395–1399	Royal Banner of King Richard II	The Coat of Arms of England impaled with attributed arms of King Edward The Confessor (symbolising mystical union).
	1406–1554, 1558–1603	Royal Banner of King Henry IV	The French quartering has been altered to three fleurs-de-lys.
	1554–1558	Royal Banner of Queen Mary I	The Coat of arms of Habsburg Spain impaled with Coat of arms of England.
	1603–1649, 1660–1689, 1702–1707	Royal Standard of the House of Stuart, used first by James VI and 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).
	1689–1702	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	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.
	1714–1800	Royal Standard of Great Britain under the House of Hanover from 1714 to 1800.
	1801–1816	Royal Standard of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1814.	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 1814 to 1837	The Royal Arms after Hanover had become a kingdom.

Royal consorts[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1952–2021	Standard of Prince Philip, consort of Elizabeth II	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	Standard of Queen Elizabeth, consort of 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 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 Edward VII	The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the Arms of the King of Denmark.
	1857–1861	Standard of Prince Albert, consort of Victoria	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	Standard of Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV	The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816–1837) impaled with the arms of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.

Welsh Royal Standards[]

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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	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

Battle flags[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	13th century	Banner known as 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
	c. 1400–1416	Banner known as the Y Ddraig Aur or "Golden Dragon" which has ancient origins. It was famously raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 by Owain Glyndŵr	Argent a dragon rampant Or

See also[]

• List of English flags
  • List of Cornish flags
• List of Northern Irish flags
• List of Scottish flags
• List of Welsh flags

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of the United Kingdom.

• United Kingdom at Flags of the World
• Union Jack at the Royal Family website
• The Flag Institute
• World Flag Database
• UK Department of Culture- Ceremonial and Flag Flying
• British Armed forces Grenadiers Colour Archived 31 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine