Royal Standard of the United Kingdom

The Royal Standards of the United Kingdom refers to either one of two similar flags used by Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Sovereign of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. Two versions of the flag exist, one for general use in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories; and the other for use in Scotland.

See also: Royal Standard
The Royal Standard used in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories
The Royal Standard used in Scotland[1]

Although almost universally called a standard, such flags when used in the United Kingdom are banners of arms, as they comprise the shield of the Royal Arms. Since the 1960s, Queen Elizabeth II has had several personal flags designed for her use as sovereign of certain Commonwealth realms. These heraldic flags are similar to those of the British "Royal Standard" in being banners of the nation's arms but feature a device found in the Queen's general personal flag (a blue disc containing a wreath of gold roses encircling a crowned letter 'E')

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is flown when the Queen is in residence in one of the royal palaces and on her car, ship or aeroplane. It may be flown on any building, official or private, during a visit by the Queen, if the owner or proprietor so requests. It famously replaces the Union Flag over the Palace of Westminster when the Queen visits during the State Opening of Parliament. The Royal Standard was flown aboard the royal yacht when it was in service and the Queen was on board. The only church that may fly a Royal Standard, even without the presence of the Sovereign, is Westminster Abbey, a Royal Peculiar.[2]

When the Queen visited the United States in 1991, she was provided with a Cadillac limousine that flew both her standard and the Stars and Stripes, an acknowledgement of the "special relationship" that exists between the two nations.[3][4]

The Royal Standard is flown at royal residences only when the sovereign is present. If the Union Flag flies above Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or Sandringham House, it signals that the Queen is not in residence. In 1934, King George V permitted his subjects in Scotland to display the ancient Royal Standard of Scotland as part of his silver jubilee. Today, it flies above Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the Queen is not in residence.[1]

When the Queen attends Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, the Royal Standard flies from Victoria Tower.[5]

Unlike the Union Flag, the Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast, even after the demise of the Crown, as there is always a sovereign on the throne.[2]

Controversy arose regarding the lack of a flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. The Queen was then in summer residence at Balmoral; and according to established custom, no flag was displayed over Buckingham Palace, as the monarch was not present. The Queen proposed a compromise whereby the Union Flag would be flown at half-mast on the day of Diana's funeral.[6] Since then, the Union Flag has flown regularly in the Queen's absence and has been lowered to half-mast to mark several occasions such as the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,[7] the September 11 attacks and the 7 July 2005 London bombings.[8] The Union Flag was also flown at half-staff over Buckingham Palace as a mark of respect on the first anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on Bank Holiday, Monday, 31 August 1998.

England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories
The Royal Standard flying above Buckingham Palace

In England, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories, the flag is divided into four quadrants. The first and fourth quadrants represent the ancient Kingdom of England and contain three gold lions, (or "leopards"), passant guardant on a red field; the second quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Scotland and contains a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quadrant represents the ancient Kingdom of Ireland and contains a version of the gold harp from the coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field. The inclusion of the harp remains an issue for some in Ireland. In 1937 Éamon de Valera, then Taoiseach asked Dominions Secretary Malcolm MacDonald if the harp quarter could be removed from the Royal Standard on the grounds that the Irish people had not given their consent to the Irish emblem being included. The request was denied and the harp remains.[9]

The modern Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, apart from minor changes, (notably to the form of harp used to represent Ireland), dates to the reign of Queen Victoria. Earlier Royal Standards of the United Kingdom incorporated the Arms of Hanover and of the Kingdom of France, representing the title of Elector (later King) of Hanover and the theoretical claim to the throne of France, a claim dropped in 1800). The Hanoverian association terminated in 1837 with the accession of Queen Victoria who, being a female, could not accede to Hanover.

Famous Royal Standards of former British Monarchs include the Scotland Impaled Royal Standard of Queen Anne, the Hanover Quartered Royal Standards of King George I to George III, and the Hanover crowned Royal Standards of George III to William IV. The latter contained the Royal coat of arms of Hanover superimposed over what became the modern Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, although this particular standard's artistic representations of the banners of England, Ireland and Scotland in their respective quadrants was marginally different from the versions used today.

Scotland
Royal Standard flying above the Palace of Holyrood House.

In Scotland a separate version of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is used, whereby the red Lion Rampant of the Kingdom of Scotland appears in the first and fourth quadrants, displacing the three gold lions passant guardant of England, which occur only in the second quadrant. The third quadrant, displaying the gold harp of Ireland, remains unaltered from that version used throughout the remainder of the United Kingdom and overseas.

Other members of the Royal Family also use this Scottish version when in Scotland, with the only exceptions to this protocol being the consort of a queen regnant and the heir apparent, the Duke of Rothesay, each of whom has his own individual standard.

The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland differs from the current, traditional Royal Standard of Scotland in that the latter portrays the Lion Rampant in its entirety. As the banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, the Royal Standard of Scotland remains a personal banner of the monarch [10] and, despite being commonly used as an unofficial second flag of Scotland, its use is restricted under an act passed in 1672 by the Parliament of Scotland.[11]

The Royal Standard of Scotland is used officially at Scottish royal residences, when the monarch is not in residence, and by representatives of the Crown, including the First Minister, Lord Lieutenants in their lieutenancies, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Lord Lyon King of Arms. A variation of the Royal Standard of Scotland is used by the heir apparent to the King of Scots, the Duke of Rothesay, whose personal Royal Standard is the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with an azure-coloured label of three points. (The banner of the Duke of Rothesay also features the same, displayed upon an inner shield).

Heir to the Throne

The direct heir to the Throne has several distinct standards and banners for use throughout the United Kingdom in representation of this position. Charles, Prince of Wales currently has five standards at use for his various roles and titles.

StandardTitleDescription
Prince of Wales The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, defaced with a three-point label. Superimposed is the arms of Llywelyn the Great —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— crowned with the Prince's coronet.

Used in England and Northern Ireland, this standard was created in 1917.

Prince of Wales The arms of Llywelyn the Great. Superimposed is a green shield bearing the Prince's coronet.

Used in Wales, this standard was created in 1962 at the suggestion of Prince Philip.

Prince and Great Steward of Scotland,
Lord of the Isles, Duke of Rothesay		 Quartered, the first and fourth a gold field defaced by a white and blue checkerboard band, the second and third a ship on a white background. Superimposed is the coat of arms of the heir apparent to the King of Scots.

Used in Scotland, this standard was created in 1974 at the suggestion of Prince Charles.

Duke of RothesayThe Royal Standard of Scotland, defaced with a three-point label in blue.

Used in Scotland, this is the ancient banner of the heir apparent to the King of Scots.[12]

Duke of CornwallThe flag is "sable fifteen bezants Or", that is, a black field bearing fifteen gold coins.

Used in Cornwall, this is the ancient banner of the Duke of Cornwall.

Historic

StandardTitleDescription
Prince of Wales The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, defaced with a three-point label. Superimposed is the coat of arms of the Royal House of Saxony. This standard was designated for the Prince of Wales from 1859 to 1917, at which time King George V renamed the Royal Family from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor and renounced all German titles and claims in an act of British patriotism related to the ongoing First World War.

Other members of the Royal Family

Other members of the Royal Family have personal standards of their own. These are variants of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, (including that which is used in Scotland), defaced with 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 royal blood (i.e. 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, listed according to the line of succession:

Standard Member of the Royal Family Description
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge A three-point label, signifying a direct heir to the Throne, the second point charged with a red escallop taken from the arms of his mother Lady Diana
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a red escallop taken from the arms of his mother Lady Diana
Prince Andrew, Duke of York A three-point label, the second point charged with a blue anchor
Princess Beatrice A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a bee
Princess Eugenie A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a Scottish thistle
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex A three-point label, the second point charged with a Tudor rose
Princess Anne, Princess Royal A three-point label, the first and third points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second point charged with red heart
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with a lion passant guardant
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with a blue anchor, the second and fourth points charged with the Cross of St. George
Prince Michael A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with a blue anchor
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy A five-point label, the first and fifth points charged with a red heart, the second and fourth points charged with a blue anchor, the third point charged with the Cross of St. George

Consorts of the British monarch

Queens consort of the British monarch are granted arms based on the Royal Standard and their own personal arms from before their marriage, or the arms of their family. 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 British Royal Standard. They use standards based on their own family arms.

Standard Consort Details
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Consort of Elizabeth II
(1952–present)		 The Standard is based on the Duke's Greek and Danish roots. The flag is divided into four quarters:

The first quarter, representing Denmark, consists of three blue lions passant and nine red hearts on a yellow field. The second quarter, representing Greece, consists of a white cross on a blue field. The third quarter, representing the duke's surname, Mountbatten, contains five black and white vertical stripes. The fourth quarter, 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.

Queen Elizabeth
Consort of George VI
(1936–2002)		 The Royal Standard, impaled with the arms of her father, Claude Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Queen Mary
Consort of George V
(1910–1953)		 The Royal Standard, impaled with the arms of her father, Francis, Duke of Teck, quartered with the Hanoverian coat of arms as used by her grandfather, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge.
Queen Alexandra
Consort of Edward VII
(1901–1925)		 The Royal Standard, impaled with the royal coat of arms of Denmark.

Historic Royal Standards
Standard Member of the Royal Family Description
Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh A three-point label, the first and third points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second point charged with a Tudor rose.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon A three-point label, the first and third points charged with a Tudor Rose, the second point charged with a Scottish thistle.
Prince Albert, Duke of York A three-point label, the second point charged with a blue anchor
Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood A three-point label, the first, second and third points charged with the Cross of St. George.
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester A three-point label, the first and third points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second point charged with a lion passant guardant.
Prince George, Duke of Kent A three-point label, the first, second and third points charged with a blue anchor.
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone A five-point label, the first, second, fourth and fifth points charged with a red heart, the third point charged with the Cross of St. George.
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor A three-point label, the second point charged with the Crown of Saint Edward.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn A three-point label, the first and third points charged with fleurs-de-lis, the second point charged with the Cross of St. George. Superimposed is the coat of arms of the Royal House of Saxony.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn A three-point label, the first and third points charged with fleurs-de-lis, the second point charged with the Cross of St. George.
Prince Arthur A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with fleurs-de-lis. Superimposed is the coat of arms of the Royal House of Saxony.
Prince Arthur A five-point label, the first, third and fifth points charged with the Cross of St. George, the second and fourth points charged with fleurs-de-lis.

Others
Royal Standard for other members of the Royal Family who do not have a personal standard.
Funeral carriage of Diana, Princess of Wales, with the coffin draped with an ermine-bordered standard.[13]

Other members of the Royal Family may use the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, but within an ermine border, (a white border with black "tails" 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,[14][15] had this standard draped over their coffins at their funerals.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also enjoys the right to use this version of the Royal Standard although she rarely exercises it on her own. She received a grant of arms on 17 July 2005, which, based on past practice, could form the basis for her own standard.[16]

Uses of Standards
Royal Banners in St Giles' Cathedral: The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland and (clockwise) those of the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Royal and Duke of Rothesay.

The Royal Standard is reserved only for the monarch, and is the most used. Most famously it signals the presence of the monarch at a royal residence, and is also used on official vehicles, primarily the Bentley State Limousine, but also on other road vehicles at home or abroad, often a Range Rover. The Royal Standard is also flown from aircraft and water vessels, including HMY Britannia and MV Spirit of Chartwell [17] during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. When the monarch is aboard a British naval ship, the flag is flown from the main mast of the ship and is lowered upon his/her departure.[18] The flag is also draped over the coffin of the Monarch upon his/her death.

In some situations, personal standards are displayed within the UK, such as within St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, (site of the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle), and St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle home of Banners of Knights of the Order of the Garter,[19][20][21] at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant Prince Andrew's standard flew from MV Havengore.[22] However, the use of personal standards of other members of the Royal Family varies in frequency. The Prince of Wales flies his standard at Clarence House in the same way the Royal Standard is used over Buckingham Palace, but other members of the family tend not to fly theirs from their respective residences (though this may be due to the fact that many share official London Residences, as is the case at Kensington Palace).

Funeral carriage of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, with the coffin draped with her personal standard.

Family members also do not use their standards on road vehicles, either privately or during official engagements (when more discreet cars are used, such as Jaguar) or state occasions (when the Liveried cars of the Royal Mews are used), this seems reserved for the Queen only, although when Prince Philip travels alone at state occasions, his standard flies from the roof of his car, as seen with the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales (when the Queen Mother also flew her personal standard from her car) and that of the Queen Mother, also, when a visiting Head of State on a state visit uses a car from the Royal Mews, his/her own flag is displayed.[23][24] That said, when abroad, the standards of members of the family may well be flown: examples include Prince Charles,[25][26] the Duchess of Cornwall[27] and Prinue William.[28][29]

Personal Standards have been used to cover the coffins of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret[30][31] and the Duke of Windsor.

Position of Honour

According to the UK Flag Protocol, the order of precedence of flags in the United Kingdom is: the Royal Standards, the Union Flag, the flag of the host country (England, Scotland and Wales etc.), the flags of other nations (in alphabetical order), the Commonwealth Flag, the European Union Flag, the county flags, the flags of cities or towns, the banners of arms, and the house flags.[32]

See also

References
  1. "Rules for hoisting flags on buildings of the Scottish Government" (PDF). gov.scot. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  2. "Royal Standard". The Royal Household. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  3. "Outbound State Visits Since 1952" (PDF). The Royal Household. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. deWitt, Karen (17 May 1991). "Queen's Address to Congress Celebrates Mutual Respect". The New York Times. p. A10. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. "The Victoria Tower". Parliament.UK. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  6. "Blair Defends Royal Family Against Criticism". BBC News. 4 September 1997. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  7. "Crowds Grieve for Queen Mother". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  8. "London bombings toll rises to 37". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  9. "Media Factsheet: Queen Elizabeth II's State Visit to Ireland". Discover Ireland. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  10. "Days for Hoisting Flags on Buildings of the Scottish Government 2010" (PDF). Scottish Government.
  11. "Lyon King of Arms Act 1672". The National Archives. 8 January 1995.
  12. Griffith, John (4 August 2003). "Standard of the Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles for Scotland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  13. "British Flags - Royal and vice-regal flags". Flags.net. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  14. "Final Royal farewell to princess". BBC News. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  15. "The coffin of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, is carried out..." Getty Images. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  16. "The Coat of Arms of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall". College of Arms. 17 July 2005. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  17. Mbiyu, David (3 June 2012). "Diamond Jubilee flotilla adds color on the Thames". Demotix.com. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  18. "91: Standards, Flags and Colours". The Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy (PDF) (3 ed.). UK Ministry of Defence. April 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2020. The Royal Standard, being the personal flag of the Sovereign,is to be hoisted on board HM ships and on official buildings and enclosures only whenThe Sovereign is present. It is to be hauled down at the moment of departure.
  19. "Prince William and St George's Chapel". College of St. George. Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  20. "Tour: The Quire". College of St. George. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  21. "Gallery of Wanamaker Flags". Flag Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  22. "Diamond Jubilee: Thames River Pageant". Zimbio.com. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  23. "Pomp and ceremony for Amir of Kuwait". The Daily Telegraph. London. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27 – via YouTube.
  24. kenjonbro. "Bentley State Limousine". Flickr. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  25. "A Brush With Royal-tea! Prince of Wales: A Tea Review I". Alice and the teacup. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  26. Campion, Vikki; Matheson, Melissa (9 November 2012). "Foul weather follows Prince Charles and Camilla". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  27. "Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall addresses the Royal Australian Corps of..." Getty Images. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  28. "William and Kate jet off on Canada trip". BBC News. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  29. "Kate & William's Diamond Jubilee Tour Highlights". The Royal Post. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-27.{{dead link|date=July 2020
  30. "Princess's coffin moved to Windsor". BBC News. 14 February 2002. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  31. "A hearse containing Princess Margarets coffin leaves St. Georges..." Getty Images. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  32. UK Flag Protocol – Position of Honour. Flag Institute.

Further reading
  • Davies, Norman (1999). The Isles: A History. Palgrave Macmillan.
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