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Several countries use the term Royal Standard to describe the flag used by the monarch and members of the royal family. This article concerns the Royal Standards used as the official flags of Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Sovereign of the United Kingdom and of various other Commonwealth Realms. Several Realms possess their own Royal Standards.
Although almost universally called a standard, the flags used in the United Kingdom are banners of arms, as they comprise the shield of the national coat of arms. Outside the UK the flags are usually the national banner with a blue disc containing a wreath of gold roses encircling the crowned letter 'E' (for 'Elizabeth') superimposed upon it.
In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown from buildings where the monarch is present. It flies above the Union Flag, Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags. It never flies at half staff.
United Kingdom
In England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and other British territories the flag is split into four quadrants. The first and fourth quadrants represent England and contain three gold lions passant on a red field; the second quadrant represents Scotland contains a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold Coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field.
In Scotland, a similar flag is used, except that the lion rampant occurs in the first and fourth quadrants, and the lions passant occur in the second quadrant.
The modern Royal Standard, apart from minor changes (notably to the form of harp used to represent Ireland), dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria. Earlier Royal Standards incorporated the Arms of Hanover and France, representing the monarch's position as Elector (later King) of Hanover and the theoretical claim made to the French throne. The most famous standards include the Scotland Impaled Royal Standard of Queen Anne, Hanover Quartered of Kings George I to George III, and Hanover crowned of George III to William IV. The latter contained the Royal Coat of Arms of Hanover superimposed over what is the modern Royal Standard (though the standard's visual representation of England, Ireland and Scotland in their quadrants was marginally different). There are many pubs in the UK named after the Royal Standard. There is however, only one pub that is called "The Royal Standard of England" near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. This pub is also the oldest "Free house" pub in England.
Australia
The Queen's Personal Australian Flag is divided into sixths, three in the upper half and three in the lower. The first sixth represents New South Wales and bears a red St George's Cross, upon which is a gold lion in the centre and a gold star on each arm. The second sixth represents Victoria and contains a Crown and five white stars on a blue field. The third sixth represents Queensland and consists of a blue Maltese cross, bearing a Crown, on a white field. The fourth sixth represents South Australia and includes an Australian piping shrike on a gold field. The fifth sixth represents Western Australia and consists of a black swan on a gold field. The last sixth represents Tasmania and contains a red lion on a white field. Over all is a gold seven-pointed star, representing the six states and the territories, and on top of the star is the aforementioned blue disc.
Barbados
In Barbados the flag is yellow, and consists of a bearded fig tree (with the leaves coloured blue) in the centre and a Pride of Barbados flower in each of the top corners. The fig tree is partly obscured by a blue disc.
Canada
In the Queen's Personal Canadian Flag the upper two-thirds of the flag is identical to the Standard of England, except that three fleurs-de-lis of France occur in the fourth quadrant. The lower third of the flag contains red maple leaves of Canada on a white field. Overall is the aforementioned blue disc.
Jamaica
In Jamaica the flag is white and bears a red St George's Cross. On each arm of the Cross is a gold pineapple. A blue disc is placed in the centre of the Cross.
New Zealand
In New Zealand the flag is divided into four quadrants, but there is a white vertical stripe passing through the centre. The first quadrant includes four red stars on a blue field. The second quadrant consists of a golden fleece on a red field. The third quadrant contains a golden wheat sheaf on a red field. The final quadrant includes two crossed gold hammers on a blue field. The central stripe consists of three ships, with the blue disk superimposing the flag, obscuring the centre ship.
Other Commonwealth Nations
The other Commonwealth realms do not have their own Royal Standards. In Commonwealth countries in which she is not Queen, another flag is used that has the crowned letter 'E' in gold, surrounded by a garland of gold roses on a blue background. Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Malta and Trinidad and Tobago originally had their own Royal Standards, but these became obsolete when they became republics.
Other members of the Royal Family
Variants of the Royal Standard are used for other members of the British Royal Family.
Prince of Wales
The Prince of Wales has separate standards: one used in England (and Northern Ireland), one in Scotland, and one in Wales.- England & Northern Ireland : The Royal Standard of England is used, with a white label of three points. In the centre of the flag, the crowned Arms of the Principality of Wales — four quadrants, the first and fourth with a red lion on a gold field, and the second and third with a gold lion on a red field — is superimposed. The English Standard is also used outside of England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Wales : The flag is divided into four quadrants, the first and fourth with a red lion on a gold field, and the second and third with a gold lion on a red field. Superimposed is a green shield bearing a crown.
- Scotland : The flag is based on two Scottish titles of the Prince of Wales: Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles. The flag is divided into four quadrants. The first and fourth quadrants include a blue and white checkerboard band in the centre of a gold field. The second and third quadrants include a ship on a white background. A gold shield bearing the lion rampant of Scotland is superimposed.
Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal
Other members of the Royal Family have personal standards of their own. These are variants of the Royal Standard, with the bearing of a white label and either three points or pendants (for children of a sovereign), or five points (grandchildren of a sovereign). Traditionally all Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal (ie descendants of the Sovereign) are granted arms on their 18th birthday, thus giving them a banner to fly from their residences.The following members of the Royal Family have personal standards
- HRH The Duke of York: the middle point bears a blue anchor, while the first and last points are blank.
- HRH The Earl of Wessex: the middle point bears a red rose, while the first and last points are blank.
- HRH The Princess Royal: the first and last point each bear a red cross. The middle point bears a red heart.
- HRH Prince William of Wales: unlike other grandchildren of the Sovereign, Prince William uses a label with three points. The middle point bears a red shell, while the first and last points are blank.
- HRH Prince Harry: the first, middle, and last points each bear a red shell, while the second and fourth points are blank.
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester: white label with five points, three with St George's Cross, two with red Lion passant guardant.
- HRH The Duke of Kent: white label with five points, three with blue Anchor, two with St George's Cross.
- HRH Prince Michael of Kent: white label with five points, three with St George's Cross, two with blue Anchor.
- HRH Princess Alexandra: white label with five points, two with hearts, two with anchors, one with St George's Cross.
Consorts of the British monarch
Queen consorts of the British monarch are granted arms based on the Royal Standard and the arms of their father. Thus their standard consists of the Royal Standard impaled with their paternal arms. The example of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother shows the Royal Standard impaled with the arms of her paternal family, the Earl of Strathmore. Queen Mary's standard was the Royal Standard impaled with the arms of her father, Francis, Duke of Teck and the Hanoverian Coat of Arms as used by her grandfather, the Duke of Cambridge. Queen Alexandra's standard was the Royal Standard impaled with the Royal Arms of Denmark. In Scotland, a Queen consort will use the Scottish version of the Royal Standard. They do not have different standards for the Commonwealth realms that have their own Royal Standards.Consorts of a Queen regnant are not granted use of the Royal Standard. They will use Standards based on their own family arms. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh has his a standard based on his Greek and Danish roots. The flag is divided into four quadrants. The first quadrant, representing Denmark, consists of three blue lions passant and nine red hearts on a yellow field. The second quadrant, representing Greece, consists of a white cross on a blue field. The third quadrant, representing the Duke's surname, Mountbatten, contains five black and white vertical stripes. The fourth quadrant, alludes to his title as Duke of Edinburgh, and includes a black and red castle which is also part of the city of Edinburgh's arms.
Other members of the Royal Family
Other members of the Royal Family may use the Royal Standard of England, but within an ermine border, i.e. a white border with black spots representing the ermine fur. This standard is mainly used for the wives of British princes, or members of the Royal Family who have not yet been granted their own arms. Diana, Princess of Wales and more recently, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester had this standard draped over their coffins at their funerals.See also
Additional reading
- Norman Davies, The Isles: A History (Palgrave Macmillan, 1999)
Flags of the United Kingdom | British monarchy
Royal Standard | Estandarte del Monarca Británico | Royal Standard | Stendardo di monarchi britannici | 英国王室旗帜
"Royal Standard"