Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Use	Civil and state flag, state ensign
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	8 November 1990
Design	Green   Red   White   Blue   Yellow   Black   Brown   Grey

The flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is similar to the flags of other British dependencies and colonies as it has the Union Flag in the upper hoist-side corner. The palm tree and crown are symbols of the Indian Ocean Territory. The origin or meaning of the wavy lines is unknown, and their existence is a break from the traditional practice of flags of British colonies or former colonies. It is understood that the flag, which was granted by Queen Elizabeth II on the 25th anniversary of the BIOT in 1990^[1] is that of the Commissioner and has only semi-official status.

The BIOT flag is similar to the flag of British Columbia.

Given that it is impossible for civilians to visit the British Indian Ocean Territory, it is not clear whether the flag is actually used. However, a video was released by the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia. It shows a scene where the flag is being flown.^[2] The only settlements on the Islands are the Anglo-American naval and air facilities.

The flag does indeed fly at Diego Garcia, along with the American Flag. Both are lowered at the end of the duty day.

It appears that the flag is also used by the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.^[3] The Commissioner is based at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.^[4]

Other images

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  The flag as used in 1990

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  The flag flying on Diego Garcia

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  Flag of the Chagos Refugees Group Chagossian Group

Notes

Flags of the British Overseas Territories and the Crown dependencies British Overseas Territories Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Helena Ascension Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Crown dependencies Guernsey Alderney Herm Sark Jersey Isle of Man

National and regional flags incorporating the Union Jack Sovereign states Australia Fiji New Zealand Tuvalu United Kingdom Dependent territories United Kingdom Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands New Zealand Cook Islands Niue States, provinces and other administrative divisions Australia New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia Canada British Columbia Manitoba Ontario Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Helena Ascension Island Tristan da Cunha United States Hawaii Cities Chile Coquimbo United States Baton Rouge, Louisiana Pensacola, Florida Taunton, Massachusetts Miscellaneous Flags based on British ensigns List of British flags