List of British flags

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 holds a similar role within Scotland.^[2] A separate private body called the Flag Institute, 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 European Union, 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 British flags
Cornish flags[note]
English flags
Northern Irish flags
Scottish flags
Welsh flags
Royal Standards
^ Cornwall is part of England, however the Cornish people are a recognised national minority of the UK.

Current national flags

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

United Kingdom

Flag	Date	Use	Description	Status
	1801 on	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.

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 1953–1972. 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 devised in 1959. The Flag of Northern Ireland (if any) is argued over endlessly. 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,^[10] UEFA,^[11] and the Commonwealth Games)^[12] 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 government to represent Northern Ireland when a discrete Northern Ireland flag is required.^[13][14]

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 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

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
		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 in black. 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	Date	Use	Description
		Ensign of the Royal Yacht Squadron	The same as the Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.
		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 Forth Yacht Club	The blue ensign defaced by a Cross pattée, surmounted by the Crown of Scotland.
		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 the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.	The blue ensign defaced with a yellow rampant lion.
		Ensign of the West Mersea Yacht Club.	The red ensign deface with three swords (Essex symbol).
		Ensign of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club	The blue ensign with a defaced crown in the middle of the Union Jack.
		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 Royal Windermere Yacht Club	The red ensign defaced with a Royal Crown.

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.[15]
		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
	1948 on	Standard of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh	A banner of the Coat of Arms of the Duke of Edinburgh, 1st quarter representing Denmark, 2nd quarter Greece, 3rd quarter the Mountbatten family, 4th quarter Edinburgh
	2000 on	Standard of HRH The Duke of Cambridge	Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label, the centre label bearing an Escallop in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales
	2002 on	Standard of HRH Prince Henry of Wales (Prince Harry)	Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first, centre and fifth labels bearing an Escallop in reference to the arms of Diana, Princess of Wales
	1978 on	Standard of HRH The Duke of York	Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label, the centre label bearing a blue anchor
	2006 on	Standard of HRH Princess Beatrice of York	Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label with three bees in alternating points
	2008 on	Standard of HRH Princess Eugenie of York	Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label with three thistle heads in alternating points
		Standard of HRH The Earl of Wessex	Banner of the Earl's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label, the centre label bearing a Tudor Rose
		Standard of HRH The Princess Royal	Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label, the first and third labels bearing a red cross, the centre label bearing a red heart.
	1962 on	Standard of HRH The Duke of Gloucester	Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a red lion.
		Standard of HRH The Duke of Kent	Banner of the Duke's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a blue anchor, the second and fourth labels bearing a red cross.
		Standard of HRH Prince Michael of Kent	Banner of the Prince's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first, third and fifth labels bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a blue anchor.
	1961 on	Standard of HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy	Banner of the Princess's Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first and fifth labels bearing a red heart, the third label bearing a red cross, the second and fourth labels bearing a blue anchor.

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.[16] 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
	2008 on	Ensign of the UK Border Agency (predecessor of UK Visas and Immigration)	A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the UK Border Agency
		Ensign of Her Majesty's Coastguard	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of HM Coastguard
		Ensign of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the 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.[17] 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
	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.

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.[18]
		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

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.
	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.
		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
	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
		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..

Overseas territories

In 1999, the maritime flags of the British Overseas Territories were updated at the request of the Ministry of Defence. The white discs were removed from the field of the flags and each respective coat of arms was increased in size for ease of identification. As the MoD only had authority over sea flags, the Governments of the Overseas Territories were free to continue using the flags with white discs on land. The Overseas Territories' governments did switch to the updated flags over a staggered period of time, however some old-style flags with white discs may still be seen. 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.^[19]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1990 on	Flag of 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	Flag of Ascension Island, an island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Ascension Island
	1910 on	Flag of Bermuda[20]	A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Bermuda. Used on land and as the civil ensign. (Government ensign is blue.)
	1963 on	Flag of the British Antarctic Territory	A white ensign less the cross of St George defaced with the Coat of Arms of the British Antarctic Territory
	1990 on	Flag of the 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	Flag of 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.
	1958 on	Flag of 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.
	1999 on	Flag of 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.
	1982 on	Flag of Gibraltar	Two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the centre of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centred in the red band. This is the flag commonly used on land.
	1921 on	Government Ensign of Gibraltar	A British Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the badge of Gibraltar in the fly. This is the ensign for vessels owned by the Government, or in Government service.
	1996 on	Civil Ensign of Gibraltar[21]	A British Red Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the badge of Gibraltar in the fly; the civil ensign for locally registered vessel.
	1909 on	Flag of Montserrat	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Montserrat
	1984 on	Flag of Pitcairn Island	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands
	1984 on	Flag of 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	Flag of 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	Flag of 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	Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands	A blue 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

Islands

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Outer Hebrides
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[22][23]	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)[24]	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.[25]
		Flag of the Isles of Scilly[22]	The Scillonian Cross
	2017 on	Flag of South Uist[22][23]	A green flag bearing a blue Nordic cross fimbrated in white
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland[22][23]	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field
	2009 on	Flag of the Isle of Wight[22]	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,^[26] including by official bodies such as the Department for Communities and Local Government.^[27] Northumberland and Hertfordshire County Councils have "released" their banners of arms for use as county flags.^[28] 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.^[29]

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.[30]
		Banner of the former Bedfordshire County Council	Differs in detail from the flag of the historic county (2014)
		Flag of Berkshire[31]	A stylised monochrome version of the two lions under a crown from the coat of arms of the county council.
	2011 on	Flag of Buckinghamshire[22]	A red and black field bearing a chained swan: a traditional badge of the county
	2016 on	Flag of Caithness[32]	A blue Nordic Cross fimbriated in gold on a black field.The black recalls the area's famous Caithness flagstone and the gold and blue refers to its beaches and the sea. A Galley, the traditional symbol of Caithness is in the top left quadrant.
	1974 on	Flag of Cambridgeshire[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[22]	A white cross on a black field
		Flag of Cumbria[27]	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.
	2006 on	Flag of Derbyshire[22][34]	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[22][35]	A white cross with a black border on a green field.
	2008 on	Flag of Dorset[36]	A white cross with a red border on a gold field.
	2013 on	Flag of County Durham[37]	On a field divided in two, the upper half yellow and the lower blue, St Cuthbert's cross counterchanged (having the opposite colours as the field).
		Flag of East Sussex[38]	A variation on the arms attributed to the Kingdom of Sussex.
	Possibly 6th century	Flag of Essex[22]	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords (Seaxes).
	2008 on	Flag of Gloucestershire – the Severn Cross[22][35]	The winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium.
		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.
		Flag of Hampshire[40]	The Flag of Hampshire is split horizontally with equal bands of red on top and yellow beneath. There is a red rose in the centre of the yellow band and a crown in the centre of the red band.[41]
		Flag of Herefordshire[42]
	2008 on	Flag of Hertfordshire[22]	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[22]	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.
	1605 on	Flag of Kent[22][43]	A red field with the white horse of Kent in the centre.
		Flag of Leicestershire[44]	The flag of Leicestershire County Council, adopted in 1930.[45] (There is as yet no flag for whole historic county of Leicestershire, including both the administrative county and the unitary authority of the city of Leicester created in 1997.)
	2005 on	Flag of Lincolnshire[22][34]	Quarterly Vert and Azure, on a Cross Gules fimbriated Or a Fleur-de-Lis of the last.
		Flag of Merseyside[46]
		Flag of Norfolk[47]
		Flag of Northamptonshire CC
	1951	Flag of Northumberland[22]	Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Based on the St Oswald banner (below).[48]
	2011 on	Flag of Nottinghamshire[22][34]	A red cross fimbrated white on a green field, with an inescutcheon in the centre showing Robin Hood.
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[22][23]	A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field.
		Flag of Oxfordshire[49]	The Flag of Oxfordshire has a dark blue field with two wavy white lines running from upper hoist to lower fly. In the lower hoist there is a cluster of six gold oak leaves and in the upper fly there is a cluster of 3 gold wheat stalks.[50]
	1988 on	Flag of Pembrokeshire[22]	A yellow cross on a blue field with a variation of the red and white Tudor rose in the centre
		Flag of Rutland
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland[22][23]	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field
	2012 on	Flag of Shropshire[22]	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.
		Flag of South Yorkshire[37]	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.[51]
		Flag of Staffordshire[52]	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 Suffolk[53]	Coat of arms of Suffolk on a gold background. The main charge in the arms is the sun rising over the sea. Suffolk is the most easterly county in England and thus the first to see the sun rise. The open crowns and crossed arrows refer to Bury St. Edmunds and have been widely used in the arms of Suffolk towns and districts.
		Flag of Surrey[54]	The flag of Surrey is divided into halves, blue on the left and black on the right. Lying across the flag diagonally are two interlaced gold keys. In the lower part of the blue half there is a woolpack, and in the upper part of the black half there is a sprig of oak with acorn, both in grey.[55]
		Flag of Tyne and Wear[37]	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.[56]
	1931 on	Flag of Warwickshire[57] – the Bear and Ragged Staff[58]	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.[59]
		Flag of the West Midlands[37]	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[60]	Banner of arms of the local authority. Blue and gold flag with six golden martlets.
	2009 on	Flag of Wiltshire[22]	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.[61] Accepted by Wiltshire Council in December 2009[62]
		Flag of Worcestershire CC[63]	Banner of arms of the local authority.

Cities, towns and villages

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Aberdeen[26]	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)[64].
		Flag of Belfast[26]	A banner of the City's coat of arms (Registered by the Flag Institute)[65].
		Flag of Birmingham[26]	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)[66].
		Flag of Cardiff	A banner of the City's coat of arms (Registered by the Flag Institute)[67].
		Flag of Calne	Golden circle over green, blue and white stripes (Registered by the Flag Institute)[68].
		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)[69].
		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)[70].
		Flag of Durham[26]	A red cross outlined in white on a black field.
		Flag of Edinburgh[26]	A heraldic flag derived from the arms of Edinburgh Council.[71] (Registered by the Flag Institute)[72]
		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)[73].
		Flag of Finchfield	Three golden finches with an interlocking pattern of stylised wheat (Registered by the Flag Institute)[74].
		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)[75].
		Flag of Hampton Poyle	A white saltire on red with a black border with golden bezants (Registered by the Flag Institute)[76].
		Flag of Horningsea	A potter at his wheel counterchanged across a vertical bisection red and white (Registered by the Flag Institute)[77].
		Flag of Kingswinford	A white boar with a gold crown on blue (Registered by the Flag Institute)[78].
		Flag of Lincoln[26]	A banner of the City's coat of arms
		Flag of the City of London[26]	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)[79]
		Flag of Nenthead	A green triangle with white eight pointed star over black and white hoops (Registered by the Flag Institute)[80].
		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)[81].
		Flag of Penrith	A red saltire on white with blue knot/flowers in each quarter (Registered by the Flag Institute)[82].
		Flag of Petersfield	Crossed keys on a green field with a plain white and wavy blue hoop (Registered by the Flag Institute)[83].
		Flag of Pewsey	A white horse (Pewsey White Horse) on green hills below an oaken crown (Registered by the Flag Institute)[84].
		Flag of Portsmouth[26]	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)[85].
		Flag of St Albans[26] – 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)[86].
		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)[87].
		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)[88].
		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)[89].
		Flag of Wing, Buckinghamshire	A golden bird in a golden arch all on blue (Registered by the Flag Institute)[90].
		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)[91].
		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)[92].
		Flag of York[26]	A banner of the City's coat of arms.

Miscellaneous

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Unofficial flag of the British overseas territories (as used by FOTBOT)	A blue ensign with red and white wavy lines.
		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.[93]
	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

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.^[29]

Historic kingdoms and regions

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2012 on	Flag of the Black Country[22][35]	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)[94]
	1900 on	Flag of East Anglia.[22]	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)[95].
		Flag of Mercia[96] – 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[22]	A gold wyvern on a red field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[97]

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)[98]
	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)[99]
	2017 on	Flag of Berkshire	Based on the traditional badge of the county: a stag beneath Hearne's Oak. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[100]
	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)[101](Chosen in a BBC competition)[102]
	2012 on	Flag of Caernarfonshire	Vert, three eagles displayed in fess Or. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[103]
	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)[104](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[105]
	2015 on	Flag of Cambridgeshire	Blue with wavy lines in Cambridge blue, and the three crowns of East Anglia. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[106](Chosen by competition)[107]
	2013 on	Flag of Cheshire	Azure a Sword erect between three Garbs Or (Registered by the Flag Institute)[108]
	12th century	St Piran's Flag – the Flag of Cornwall	A white cross on a black field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[109]
	2012 on	The Flag of Cumberland	Based on a banner of the arms of the former Cumberland County Council.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[110]
	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)[111](Chosen in a BBC competition)[112]
	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)[113](Chosen by competition)[114]
	2013 on	Flag of County Durham[115]	A gold and blue horizontal bicolour with St. Cuthbert's Cross countercharged upon it. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[116](Chosen by competition)[117]
	2008 on	Flag of Dorset[118] – the Dorset Cross alias St Wite's Cross	A white cross with a red border on a gold field.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[119](Chosen by competition)[120]
	Possibly 6th century	Flag of Essex	A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords (Seaxes). (Registered by the Flag Institute)[121]
	2015 on	Flag of Flintshire	Argent, between four Cornish choughs sable a cross engrailed flory of the second. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[122]; the arms attributed to Edwin Tegeingl (Edwin ap Gronwy)
	12th century	Flag of Glamorgan	Gules, three Chevronels Argent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[123]
	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)[124](Chosen by competition)[125]
	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)[126]A banner of the council's arms[127]
	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)[128]
	1605 on	Flag of Kent[129]	A red field with the white horse of Kent in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[130]
	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)[131](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[132]
	2008 on	Flag of Lancashire	The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[133]
	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)[134](Chosen in a BBC competition)[135]
	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)[136]
	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)[137]
	2011 on	Flag of Monmouthshire	Per pale Azure and Sable three Fleurs-de-lis Or. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[138]
	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)[139]
	2014 on	Flag of Northamptonshire	Maroon with a gold cross fimbrated black, and in the centre the county's traditional rose.[140] (Registered by the Flag Institute)[141](Chosen by competition)[142]
	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)[143]
	2011 on	Flag of Nottinghamshire	A red cross fimbrated white on a green field, with an inescutcheon in the centre showing Robin Hood. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[144](Chosen in a BBC competition)[145]
	2007 on	Flag of Orkney[22][23]	A blue Nordic cross outlined in yellow on a red field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[146](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[147]
	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)[148]
	2015 on	Flag of Rutland	A green field strewn with acorns and a golden horseshoe in the centre. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[149]
	1969 on	Flag of Shetland	A white Nordic cross on a light blue field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[150](Enrolled by the Lord Lyon)[151]
	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)[152]A banner of the council's arms[153]
	2013 on	Flag of Somerset	Or, a Dragon Rampant Gules. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[154](Chosen by competition)[155]
	2016 on	Flag of Staffordshire	A red chevron on gold, with the Stafford knot.(Registered by the Flag Institute)[156](Chosen by competition)[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[22]	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]
	August 2016 on	Flag of Warwickshire	A bear and ragged staff, the badge of the Earls of Warwick which has become a symbol the county, white on red. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[160]
	2011 on	Flag of Westmorland	A golden heraldic apple tree on white and red bars. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[161]
	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)[162][61] Accepted by Wiltshire Council in December 2009[62]
	2013 on	Flag of Worcestershire	Three black pears on a shield charged against a wavy green and blue background. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[163](Chosen in a BBC competition)[164]
	1960s on	Flag of Yorkshire	A White Rose on a blue field. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[165]
	2013 on	Flag of the East Riding of Yorkshire[166]	Per pale Azure and Vert, an inverted rose Argent. (Registered by the Flag Institute)[167](Chosen by competition)[168]
	2013 on	Flag of the North Riding of Yorkshire[169]	Vert a cross azure fimbriated or, a rose argent (Registered by the Flag Institute)[170](Chosen by competition)[171]
	2013 on	Flag of the West Riding of Yorkshire[172]	(Registered by the Flag Institute)[173](Chosen by competition)[174]

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[175][176][177][178]
	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
	1653–1658	Standard of the Lord Protector, used by Oliver Cromwell	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.

British Empire and overseas territories

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1937–1963	Flag of the Crown Colony of Aden	A blue ensign defaced with an Arab ship inside a disc
	Until 1801 (Canada) Until 1776 (US, de facto) Until 1783 (US, de jure)	The flag of British America, part of which is now Canada and the United States	A red ensign with the first version of the Union Jack.
	1956–1962	Flag of Antigua and Barbuda	A blue ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua on a white disc
	1962–1967	Flag of Antigua and Barbuda	A blue ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua
	1869–1904	Flag of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama islands.
	1904–1923	Flag of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
	1923–1953	Flag of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
	1953–1964	Flag of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
	1964–1973	Flag of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
	1893–1907	Flag of the British Central Africa Protectorate	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of the British Central Africa Protectorate
	1885–1958	Flag of the Crown colony of Barbados	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Barbados
	1958–1966	Flag of the Crown colony of Barbados	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Barbados
	1951–1966	Flag of the Colony of Basutoland	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Basutoland
	1922–1961	Flag of the British Cameroons	A blue ensign defaced with the words 'British Cameroon' surrounding bananas, all inside a white disc
	1919–1954	Flag of the British Guiana	A blue ensign defaced with a sailing ship and the motto inside an oval
	1870–1919	Flag of British Honduras	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Honduras inside a white disc.
	1919–1981	Flag of British Honduras	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Honduras
	1903–1958	Flag of the British Windward Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc
	1937–1948	Flag of Burma	A blue ensign defaced with a peafowl inside a disc
	1868–1921	Flag of Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada
	1921–1957	Flag of Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada
	1957–1965	Flag of Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada
	1795–1910	Flag of the Cape Colony	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Cape Colony
	1815–1948	Flag of Ceylon	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Ceylon
	1881-1922	Flag of Cyprus	A blue ensign defaced with the letters, "CHC" inside a white disk.
	1922–1960	Flag of Cyprus	A blue ensign defaced with two red lions
	1955–1965	Flag of Dominica	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Dominica
	1965–1978	Flag of Dominica	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Dominica
	1876–1925	Flag of the Falkland Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the seal of the Falkland Islands
	1925–1948	Flag of the Falkland Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Colonial Badge of the Falkland Islands
	1948–1999	Flag of the Falkland Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of the Falkland Islands on a white disc
	1875–1921	Historical Government Ensign of Gibraltar	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar on a white disc
	1967–1974	Flag of Grenada	Three equal horizontal stripes blue, yellow and green from top to bottom and a branch of a pomegranate inside a white oval in the middle.
	1932–1976	Flag of Gillbert and Ellice Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Gilbert and Ellice Islands
	1821–1957	Flag of the Crown colony of Gold Coast	A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters GC under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc
	1807–1890	Flag of Heligoland	The flag of Heligoland with The Union Jack
	1870–1873	Flag of the Crown colony of Hong Kong	A blue ensign defaced with the letters HK and a royal crown in a white disc
	1876–1910	Flag of Hong Kong	A blue ensign defaced with the Colonial Badge of Hong Kong
	1910 – 1941, 1945 – 1959	Flag of Hong Kong	A blue ensign defaced with the Colonial Badge of Hong Kong
	1959–1997	Flag of Hong Kong	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Hong Kong in a white disc
	Before July 1, 1997	Flag of Hong Kong	A Blue ensign with the British lion holding the Pearl of the Orient standing on the crest on top of Victoria Island (Hong Kong island)with the Coat of Arms of British Hong Kong
	Late 1980s – 1997	Unofficial merchant ensign of Hong Kong	A red ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Hong Kong in a white disc
	1858–1947	Flag of the Indian Empire	A red ensign defaced with the shield of the Order of the Star of India
	1858–1947	British Indian Blue Ensign	A Blue ensign with the Star of India, used as the naval flag
	1815–1864	Flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the shield of the symbol of Mark the Evangelist (symbol of the Republic of Venice)
	1875–1906	Colonial flag of Jamaica	A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle
	1906–1957	Colonial flag of Jamaica	A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle
	1957–1962	Colonial flag of Jamaica	A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle
	1962	Colonial flag of Jamaica	A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white circle
	1920–1963	Flag of Crown colony of Kenya	A blue ensign defaced with a red rampant lion
	1912–1946	Flag of the Crown Colony of Labuan	A blue ensign defaced with a ship.
	1946–1957	Flag of the Crown Colony of Malacca	A blue ensign defaced with A Famosa motif.
	1946–1948	Flag of the Federated Malay States	The flag was striped horizontally with an overall 1:2 to ratio with white stripe at the top, red, yellow and black at the bottom. In the centre was a white oblong, with a horizontal major axis, and a Malayan tiger (Malay: Harimau Malaya) leaping, face to the left
	c. 1814 – 1875	Colonial flag of Malta	A red ensign defaced with a white St George's cross, but no badge
	1875–1898	Colonial flag of Malta	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Malta in a white disc
	1898–1923	Colonial flag of Malta	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Malta in a white disc
	1923–1943	Colonial flag of Malta	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Malta
	1943–1964	Colonial flag of Malta	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Malta in a white disc
	1906–1923	Flag of the Dominion of Mauritius	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Mauritius in a white disc
	1923–1968	Flag of the Dominion of Mauritius	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Mauritius
	1924–1959	Flag of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia	Flag of the Kingdom of Iraq
	1834–1860	Flag of the Mosquito Coast protectorate	Union jack, prominent over the top quarter closest to the flag mast. The field of the flag is composed of ten horizontal stripes in blue and white alternatively.
	1843–1910	Flag of the Colony of Natal	A Blue Ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the colony of Natal
	1610–1904	Flag of Newfoundland Colony	A blue ensign defaced with a seal of the crown and underwritten is "Terra Nova"
	1870–1931	Civil and Naval flag of the Dominion of Newfoundland	A Blue ensign defaced with the Great Seal of Newfoundland, primarily civil and naval use
	1907 – 1931 (used as Civil Ensign until 1965)	Flag of the Dominion of Newfoundland	A red ensign defaced with the Great Seal of Newfoundland. Used as a civil ensign until 1965
	1953–1980	Flag of New Hebrides	A Blue Ensign defaced with a crown surrounded by the words New Hebrides inside a white disk
	1800–1960	Flag of the Crown colony of Nigeria	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the colonial Nigeria
	1900–1914	Flag of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate	A Blue Ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate in a green disc.
	1882–1948	Flag of North Borneo	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
		Civil ensign of North Borneo	A red ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
	1948–1963	Flag of the Crown Colony of North Borneo	A blue ensign defaced with the new badge of Crown Colony of North Borneo.
	1939 – 1953, 1963 – 1964	Flag of Northern Rhodesia	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Northern Rhodesia
	1907 – 1953, 1963 – 1964	Flag of Nyasaland	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Nyasaland
	1900–1910	Flag of the Orange River Colony	A blue ensign defaced with a springbok antelope in a disc
	1927–1948	Ensign of the British Mandate of Palestine	A red ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for use by ships registered in the territory. The Union Jack was used as the general land flag of the mandate.
	1906–1949	Flag of the Territory of Papua	A blue ensign defaced with a crown and the word Papua underneath inside a white disc
	1946–1949	Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang	A blue ensign defaced with the pre-1985 lesser arms of Penang.
	1958–1983	Flag of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla	A blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
	1875–1939	Flag of Saint Lucia	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Lucia
	1939–1967	Flag of Saint Lucia	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Lucia
	Until 1979	Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
	1922–1962	Flag of Samoa	A Blue Ensign defaced with three palm trees encircled.
	1922–1962	Flag of Samoa	A Red Ensign defaced with three palm trees encircled. Used at sea.
	1903–1961	Flag of Seychelles	A Blue Ensign defaced with a palm tree and a tortoise aside encircled
	1961–1976	Flag of Seychelles	A Blue Ensign defaced with the legend "Seychelles" on top a palm tree and a tortoise below encircled
	1889–1914	Flag of Sierra Leone	A Blue Ensign defaced with an elephant and the initials S.L. encircled.
	1916–1961	Flag of Sierra Leone	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Sierra Leone inside a white disc.
	1903–1950	Flag of the British Somaliland	A Blue Ensign defaced with a Kudu inside a white disk.
	1950–1960	Flag of the British Somaliland	A blue ensign defaced with the shield of arms of the British Somaliland
	1910–1912	Flag of the Union of South Africa	A red ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the Union of South Africa
	1912–1928	Flag of the Union of South Africa	A red ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the Union of South Africa inside a white disc.
	1928–1961	Flag of the Union of South Africa	Variation of the flag of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape (without the VOC logo in the centre) from 1652 until 1795, with three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Jack towards the hoist, the Orange Free State Vierkleur hanging vertically and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly. This flag continued to be used by the Republic of South Africa until 1994.
	1923–1953	Flag of Southern Rhodesia	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Southern Rhodesia
	1953–1963	Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
	1964–1968	Flag of Rhodesia	A light blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Southern Rhodesia
	1946–1963	Flag of the Crown Colony of Sarawak	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Sarawak.
	1874–1942	Flag of the British Straits Settlements	A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crown; separated with a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y
	1946–1959	Flag of the Crown Colony of Singapore	A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing a crown within a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y.
	1922–1956	Flag of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan	The Flag of the Kingdom of Egypt and the Union Jack aside.
	1919–1961	Flag of Tanganyika	A red ensign defaced with the head of a giraffe in a white disc
	1921–1946	Flag of Transjordan (British Mandate of Jordan)	Flag of the Emirate of Transjordan
	1900–1910	Flag of Transvaal	A blue ensign defaced with a disc showing a lion lying on an African plain with palm trees.[179]
	1889–1962	Colonial flag of Trinidad & Tobago	A blue ensign defaced with a circular badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain
	1976–1978	Colonial flag of Tuvalu	A blue ensign defaced with a circular badge with a hut and the motto of Tuvalu
	1820–1971	Flag of the Trucial States	Flag of the Trucial States
	1914–1962	Flag of Uganda	A blue ensign defaced with a grey crowned crane inside a disc
	1903–1930	Flag of Weihaiwei	A Blue Ensign defaced with two birds by a pond inside a disc.
	1958–1962	Flag of the West Indies Federation	It has four equally-spaced narrow white stripes with a large orange-gold disc over the middle two lines in the centre of the flag, undulating horizontally across a blue field
	1896–1963	Flag of Zanzibar	A red flag used during the British protectorate.

Royal standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1198–1340	Royal Banner of King Richard I	Gules, three lions passant regardant in pale or.
	1340–1406	Royal Banner of King Edward III	The Coat of Arms of England quartered with the Royal Standard of France, the Fleur-de-lis representing the English claim to the French throne.
	1406–1603	Royal Banner of King Henry IV	The French quartering has been altered to three fleurs-de-lys.
	1603 – 1649, 1660 – 1689, 1702 – 1707	Royal Standard of the House of Stuart, used first by 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.

Members of the Royal Family

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	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.
	1944–2002	Standard of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon	The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a three-point label, first and third labels bearing a Tudor rose, the second label bearing a thistle proper.
	1917–1981	Standard of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone	The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with a five-point label, the first, second, fourth and fifth labels bearing a red heart, the third label bearing a red cross.

Welsh Royal Standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1401–1416	Banner adopted by Owain Glyndŵr and thought to be derived from the counter-charged arms of the princely Houses of Mathrafal and Dinefwr. It is 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
	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
	c. 1854	Eureka Jack, reportedly flown by the besieged rebels at the Eureka Stockade as a second battle flag on 3 December 1854, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.	Undefaced Union Jack.

Governor's flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1967–1981	Flag used by the British Governor of Antigua and Barbuda	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda.
	1845–1959	Flag flown on Government House, Hong Kong and the Governor's official car during British rule	A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Hong Kong
	1959–1997	Flag flown on Government House, Hong Kong and the Governor's official car during British rule	A Union Jack defaced with the then Coat of arms of Hong Kong
	1855–1947	Flag used by the British Governors-General, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners and other British officers in India	A Union Jack defaced with the Star of India surmounted by the Tudor Crown.
	1875–1948	Flag used by the British Governor of Ceylon	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Ceylon.
	1875–1906	Flag of the Governor of Jamaica	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica
	1906–1957	Flag of the Governor of Jamaica	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica
	1957–1962	Flag of the Governor of Jamaica	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica
	1962	Flag of the Governor of Jamaica	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica
	Until 1973	Personal flag of the Governor of Northern Ireland	A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Northern Ireland
	1929 on	Personal flag of the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia	A Union Jack defaced with the shield of the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Nova Scotia surrounded by a circle of 18 green maple leaves.
	1921–1922	Flag of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	A Union Flag defaced with an Irish Harp
	1906–1968	Flag of the Governor of Mauritius	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Mauritus
	1959–1965	Flag of the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario	The Canadian Red Ensign defaced by a disk bearing the shield of the Arms of Ontario surrounded by a chain of green maple leaves.
	1903–1961	Flag of the Governor of Seychelles	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Seychelles
	1961–1976	Flag of the Governor of Seychelles	A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Seychelles
	1922–1956	Flag of the Governor-General of the Sudan	A Union Flag defaced with a white disk surrounded by a wreath of laurel. As no badge or coat of arms existed for Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, the disk instead contained the words "GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE SUDAN..
	1931-1953	Flag of the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa	A blue flag with a Crown and a lion on top of the Tudor Crown with the name of the Union of South Africa in English on top and in Afrikaans on bottom.
	1953–1961	Flag of the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa	Similar to the previous flag, but with St. Edward's Crown instead of the Tudor Crown.
	1955–1963	Flag of the British Resident of Zanzibar	A Union Jack defaced with Coat of arms of British Resident of Zanzibar

Others

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1600–1858	Flag of the English/British East India Company	Numerous white and red stripes with the St George's Cross in the canton, the number of stripes was not determined.
	1707–1800	Flag of the British East India Company	Numerous white and red stripes with the Union Jack of Great Britain in the canton. Accepted to be one of the inspirations for the Grand Union Flag that eventually evolved into the Flag of the United States.
	1801–1858	Flag of the British East India Company	Numerous white and red stripes with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom in the canton.
		Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company	A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
	1889–1961	Flag of the British South Africa Company	A Union Jack with the logo of the British South Africa Company in the middle.
	1889–1961	Ensign of the British South Africa Company	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Symbol of the British South Africa Company
	1801–1922	Flag of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	The Union Jack defaced with the Coat of Arms of Ireland.
	Circa 1701 – post 1800	Green Ensign	An unofficial merchant navy flag consisting of a green field with an earlier version of the golden harp and the Flag of England in the canton, no record of its actual use.
	Post 1800 – c. 1922	Green Ensign	An unofficial merchant navy flag consisting of green field with golden harp and the Union Jack in the canton, no record of its actual use.

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 flag – Ministry of Defence
• British Armed forces Grenadiers Colour