Diplomatic flag

A diplomatic flag is a flag used by a sovereign state engaging in diplomacy which is different from the nation's normal national flag. Some nations also have personal flags that are used by their diplomatic representatives, such as the U.S. Foreign Service flags. ^[1]

National diplomatic flags

Currently, only two nations use diplomatic flags: Thailand (formerly Siam) and the United Kingdom. Different flags are used based upon the diplomatic rank of the mission. British High Commissions do not use diplomatic flags but rather the normal flag of the United Kingdom, since members of the Commonwealth are not considered 'foreign' by the government of the United Kingdom. ^[2]

Thailand

• 
  Flag used by Thai Embassies
• 
  Flag used by Thai Consulates and Consulates-general

United Kingdom

• 
  Flag used by British Embassies
• 
  Flag used by British Consulates and Consulates-general

Historical national diplomatic flags

Siam

• 
  Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1892–1912
• 
  Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1892–1912
• 
  Flag used by Siamese Embassies 1912–1917
• 
  Flag used by Siamese Consulates and Consulates-general 1912–1917
• 
  Flag used by Siamese Embassies, Consulates and Consulates-general 1917–1927

Sweden and Norway

The members of the union between Sweden and Norway each had its own national flag, but the Union mark was used as the flag of their common diplomatic representations abroad. ^{[3] [4]}

• 
  The Union mark

Personal diplomatic and consular flags

The Gambia

• 
  Standard of Ambassadors of the Gambia

Sierra Leone

• 
  Standard of Ambassadors of Sierra Leone

United Kingdom

• 
  Flag used by British consular officials when embarked in small boats (flag displayed at bow)
• 
  Standard of the governor of Anguilla
• 
  Standard of the governor of Bermuda
• 
  Standard of the commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
• 
  Standard of the governor of the British Virgin Islands
• 
  Standard of the governor of the Cayman Islands
• 
  Standard of the governor of the Falkland Islands
• 
  Standard of the governor of Gibraltar
• 
  Standard of the governor of Montserrat
• 
  Standard of the governor of the Pitcairn Islands
• 
  Standard of the governor of Saint Helena
• 
  Standard of the commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• 
  Standard of the governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands

United States

• 
  Flag of the secretary of state
• 
  Flag of the deputy secretary of state
• 
  Flag of United States ambassadors
• 
  Flag of a Foreign Service officer
• 
  Flag of a Consular officer

Historical personal diplomatic flags

British Empire

• 
  Flag of the governor of Aden (1937–1963)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Anguilla (1990–1999)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of Australia (1902–1908)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of Australia (1908–1936)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Bahamas (1869–1904; 1953–1964)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Bahamas (1904–1953)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Bahamas (1964–1973)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Barbados (1870–1966)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Bermuda (1875–1910)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Bermuda (1910–1999)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Columbia (1870–1871)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Guiana (1875–1906)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Guiana (1906–1955)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Guiana (1955–1966)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Honduras (1884–1981)
• 
  Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Leeward Islands (1874–1952)
• 
  Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Leeward Islands (1952–1959)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Somaliland (1903–1950)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Somaliland (1950–1952)
• 
  Flag of the governor of British Somaliland (1952–1960)
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  Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands (1886–1903)
• 
  Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands (1903–1953)
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  Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands (1953–1960)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Burma (1939–1948)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of Canada (1869–1901)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of Canada (1901–1921)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of Canada (1921–1931)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Cayman Islands (1971–1999)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Ceylon (1875–1948)
• 
  Flag of the high commissioner of Cyprus (1881–1905)
• 
  Flag of the high commissioner of Cyprus (1905–1925) and the governor of Cyprus (1925–1960)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands (1876–1925)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands (1925–1948)
• 
  Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands (1948–1999)
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  Flag of the governor of Fiji (1877–1883)
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  Flag of the governor of Fiji (1883–1903)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Fiji (1903–1908)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Fiji (1908–1970)
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  Flag of the governor of Gibraltar (1875–1939)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Gibraltar (1939–1982)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Gibraltar (1982–1999)
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  Flag of the resident commissioner and the governor of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937–1976)
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  Flag of the governor of Hong Kong (1910–1955)
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  Flag of the governor of Hong Kong (1955–1959)
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  Flag of the governor of Hong Kong (1959–1997)
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  Flag of the viceroy and governor-general of India (1885–1947)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Jamaica (1875–1906)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Jamaica (1906–1957)
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  Flag of the governor of Jamaica (1957–1962)
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  Flag of the governor of Jamaica (1962)
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  Flag of the governor of Malta (1875–1898)
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  Flag of the governor of Malta (1898–1943)
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  Flag of the governor of Malta (1943–1964)
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  Flag of the governor of Mauritius (1869–1906)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Mauritius (1906–1968)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Montserrat (1971–1999)
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  Flag of the governor of Newfoundland (1870–1904)
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  Flag of the governor of Newfoundland (1904–1949)
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  Flag of the resident commissioner of the British New Hebrides (1906–1952)
• 
  Flag of the resident commissioner of the British New Hebrides (1952–1980)
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  Flag of the governor of New Zealand (1868–1874)
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  Flag of the governor of New Zealand (1874–1908)
• 
  Flag of the governor of New Zealand (1908–1936)
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  Flag of the governor of North Borneo (1915–1946)
• 
  Flag of the governor of North Borneo (1948–1963)
• 
  Flag of the high commissioner of Palestine (1927–1948)
• 
  Flag of the lieutenant-governor of Papua (1904–1942)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963)
• 
  Flag of the administrator of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (1958–1967)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (1967–1980)
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  Flag of the governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1980–1983)
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  Flag of the governor of Sarawak (1947–1963)
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  Flag of the governor of Seychelles (1903–1961)
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  Flag of the governor of Seychelles (1961–1976)
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  Flag of the governor of Singapore (1946–1952)
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  Flag of the governor of Singapore (1952–1959)
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  Flag of the governor of the Solomon Islands (1953–1956)
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  Flag of the governor of the Solomon Islands (1956–1978)
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  Flag of the governor-general of South Africa (1910–1931)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of South Africa (1931–1952)
• 
  Flag of the governor-general of South Africa (1952–1961)
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  Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1924–1951)
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  Household flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1940–1952)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1951–1952)
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  Household flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1952–1970)
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  Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1952–1970)
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  Flag of the governor of the Straits Settlements (1874–1904)
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  Flag of the governor of the Straits Settlements (1904–1946)
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  Flag of the governor of Tanganyika (1923–1961)
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  Flag of the governor of Trinidad and Tobago (1889–1958)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962)
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  Flag of the commissioner and the administrator of the Turks and Caicos (1889–1968)
• 
  Flag of the governor of Tuvalu (1976–1978)
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  Flag of the commissioner of Weihaiwei (1899–1903)
• 
  Flag of the commissioner of Weihaiwei (1903–1930)
• 
  Flag of the administrator of Western Samoa (1920–1948)

Yugoslavia

The flag for the accredited representatives of the state (diplomats and heads of consular missions) of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was similar to the civil ensign, that is the national flag in 2:3 ratio. ^[5]

• 
  Diplomatic and consular representatives

References

1. "Diplomatic and Consular Flags (U.S.)". www.fotw.info.
2. Berridge, G R; Lloyd, Lorna (2012), The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy (3rd ed.), Palgrave Macmillan, p. 104
3. Anker, C.J. (1888). "Tegninger af Norges flag i dets forskjellige skikkelser gjennem tiden". Kristiania: P.T. Mallings boghandels forlag, pp. 11–12.
4. Colour plate attached to "Cirkulär 18. Oktober 1899" from Kongl. Utrikes Departementet, Stockholm, to the consuls of the United Kingdoms
5. "Socialist Yugoslavia: Naval rank flags (1956-1991)". www.fotw.info.

See also

• List of flags of the United States#Department of State

External links

• Media related to Flags of diplomatic services at Wikimedia Commons