| List of UK flags |
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This is a list of flags that are used exclusively in Scotland. Other flags used in Scotland, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom can be found at list of British flags.
| List of UK flags |
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This is a list of flags that are used exclusively in Scotland. Other flags used in Scotland, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom can be found at list of British flags.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 1385 [1] (832 According to Legend) | Flag of Scotland, also known as the Saint Andrew's Cross or The Saltire | A white saltire on a sky blue field |
 | A vertical white saltire on a sky blue field. |
A white saltire on a Pantone 300 medium blue per Scottish National Flag Code.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 1837 | Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland | A banner of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom used exclusively in Scotland by the sovereign. An alternative form is used elsewhere. [2] |
 | Since 1222 [3] | Royal Banner of Scotland | A banner of the ancient Royal Coat of 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. [2] [4] This flag is also used at the royal residences of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the sovereign is not present. |
 | Standard of the Duke of Rothesay | The Royal Banner of Scotland defaced with a label of three points. | |
 | Since 1974 [5] | Personal banner of the 23rd Duke of Rothesay | The personal banner of the current Duke, Prince William. The arms are based upon those of the Chief of Clan Stewart of Appin, and represent in the 1st and 4th quarters the title of Great Steward of Scotland whilst the 2nd and 3rd quarters represent the title of Lord of the Isles. In the centre, to difference the arms from those of Appin, is placed an escutcheon bearing the arms of the heir apparent to the King of Scots. [2] |
 | Since 2022 | Standard of the Queen used in Scotland | The Standard of Queen Camilla, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom for members who do not have an official banner: The Royal Standard bordered by ermine. |
 | Since 2018 | Standard of the Earl of Dumbarton | The Standard of Prince Harry, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, defaced with a label of five points, the first, centre and fifth points bearing a red scallop. |
 | Since 1986 | Standard of the Earl of Inverness | The Standard of Prince Andrew, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a blue anchor. [2] |
 | Since 1999 | Standard of the Duke of Edinburgh | The Standard of Prince Edward, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a Tudor Rose. [2] |
 | Since 1987 | Standard of the Princess Royal used in Scotland | The Standard of Princess Anne, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the first and third points bearing a St George's Cross, the centre point bearing a red heart. [2] |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | The ensign used aboard ships of the Scottish Government, such as the patrol boats of Marine Scotland [ citation needed ] | A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the former Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency[ citation needed ] |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 2023 | Flag of Aberdeenshire | Divided gold and purple, with a white castle bearing an ancient crown, also divided purple and gold. [6] |
 | Since 2023 | Flag of Banffshire | A white bridge over blue water on a gold background with a sun the canton. |
 | Since 2023 | Flag of Berwickshire | A horozontal blue and green bicolour divided in the middle by a white chain, with a leaping silver salmon in the blue section, and a curved gold ear of barley in the green section. |
 | Since 2016 | Flag of Caithness | Black, with a blue Scandinavian Cross fimbriated in gold, and a galley in the upper hoist. [7] |
 | Since 2018 | Flag of East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) | A blue field with a gold saltire voided blue; over all a lozenge with a lion rampant. [8] |
 | Since 2016 | Flag of Kirkcudbrightshire | A green and white quartered field bearing the Cross of St Cuthbert (from whom the county is named). [9] |
 | Since 2023 | Flag of Morayshire | A wavy blue and gold background with a golden garb on a green hoist |
 | Since 2007 | Flag of Orkney | Red, with a blue Nordic Cross outlined in yellow that extends to the edges of the flag. The colours from the Royal Standards of Scotland and of Norway and the Flag of Scotland. [7] |
 | Since 2005 Created 1969 | Flag of Shetland | Blue, with a white Nordic Cross. The colours of the Scottish flag. [7] |
 | Since 2018 | Flag of Sutherland | White, with a black nordic cross and black Saltire, and a gold eight-pointed star where the crosses intersect, representing the sun rising position within the Scottish sky. The white represents the former arms of the Sutherland County Council, while the black represents dark skies and the peat of the Flow Country. [10] [11] |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 2017 | Flag of Barra | Green, with a white Scandinavian Cross showing the ancestry of the people and places names of Barra. The green represents the green of the Barra Isles. [12] |
 | Flag of the Outer Hebrides | Flag of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Council of the Western Isles), sometimes used to represent the Outer Hebrides as a whole. | |
 | Since 2018 | Flag of Tiree | 'The Sun of Barley': green, with twelve barley stalks in a wheel pattern. The green represents the fertility of the isle and the 'barley sun' its reputation as the 'sunshine isle' and the name 'Land of Barley' (Tìr an Eòrna). [13] |
 | Since 2017 | Flag of South Uist [14] [15] [16] | A green flag bearing a blue Scandinavian Cross fimbriated in white |
 | Since 2020 | Flag of Skye | Blue, with a yellow Scandinavian Cross entwined with a white circle. The flag brings together elements of the island’s Viking and Celtic heritage and depicts a birlinn boat with five oars – one for every area of the island. [17] |
| Since 2002 | Flag of Gigha | Green field with the logo of the Gigha Heritage Trust in the centre. The logo contains the words "THE ISLE OF GIGHA - HERITAGE TRUST" and in the middle contains an illustration of the Carragh an Tarbert standing stone. | |
 | Flag of Great Bernera | A white saltire on a red and blue field. The top and bottom are red and have a white triskelion, composed of three armoured legs and a white lymphad respectively. The hoist and fly are blue and have a white rock in flames each. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1927 | Proposed 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. [18] |
 | Since 2021 | Flag of Maryhill | The shape is supposed to represent a narrow boat travelling down the Forth and Clyde canal. The red represents the community's passion, the black Maryhill's industrial past, and the blue represents the River Kelvin as well as the Forth and Clyde canal. [19] |
 | ? | Flag of South Lanarkshire [20] | Split in half by two shades of blue by an "S" shape, representing the first letter of the area's name. The crest of South Lanarkshire is in the centre. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| | Since 1222 [3] | Royal Banner of Scotland | A banner of the ancient Royal Coat of 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. [2] [4] This flag is also used at the royal residences of Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle when the sovereign is not present. |
 | Until 1707 | Scottish Red Ensign, used by the Royal Scottish Navy | A Red Ensign with the Flag of Scotland in the canton. |
 | 1606–1707 | Scottish Union Flag | First Union Flag with the Flag of Scotland superior to and overlying the Flag of England. |
 | c.1617 | An early version of the Union Flag that appears on a painted wooden ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace | A blue Saint Andrew's Saltire superimposed over a red Saint George's Cross on a white background. |
 | 17th-century | Scottish Covenanter flag | |
 | 1698-1700 | Flag of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies. | Red background with three small stripes at the bottom, from top to bottom, blue, white, and blue, representing a sea. There is a rising yellow sun off-centered slightly to the left. |
 | 1715 | The Jacobite Standard of 1715. | The Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland with a scroll underneath bearing the motto "NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT" on a field of dark blue. |
 | 1745–1746 | Standard of Bonnie Prince Charlie, raised at Glenfinnan on 19 August 1745. | A red flag, surrounded by a blue border on all sides, with a white square in the centre containing the White Rose of York. |
 | 1745–1746 | A representation of the Jacobite Standard said to have been used by Jacobite forces in 1745. | |
 | 1902–1904 | Flag of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition | The flag of Scotland (dark blue variant) defaced with the white-coloured initials "SNAE", one in each quarter. |
 | 1944–1952 | Standard of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh | The Standard of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (prior to her accession as Queen Elizabeth II), namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland defaced with a label of three points, the first and third points bearing a Saint George's Cross, the centre point bearing a Tudor Rose. |
 | 1997–1999 | Flag of Rockall | A white flag with a black drawing of a rock sticking out of the waves, under a rainbow. There is a drawing of a whale on the rock. |
 | pre–2007 | Former unofficial flag of Orkney, denied formal recognition by the Lord Lyon in 2001 | The Cross of St Magnus. (An official flag was adopted in 2007). |
 | 2005–2011 | Flag of the Scottish Jacobite Party | Two crossed white sword blades on a field of red. |
 | 2018 | Flag of Sutherland | A swooping eagle, seen face on, against a vertical bicoloured red and yellow background, with the eagle counterchanged yellow and red; At the hoist three stars or mullets. Was originally unveiled as the Flag of Sutherland in February 2018, but was placed on hold due to backlash from residents. A public vote beginning in October 2018 led to the retirement of this flag in favour of the current design. |
 | 1952–2021 | Standard of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | A banner of the Coat of Arms of Prince Philip; 1st quarter representing Denmark, 2nd quarter Greece, 3rd quarter the Mountbatten family, 4th quarter Edinburgh. [21] |
 | 2011–2022 | Standard of Prince William, Earl of Strathearn. | The Standard of Prince William, namely the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom used in Scotland, defaced with a label of three points, the centre point bearing a red scallop. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Flag of Edinburgh Napier University | A flag diagonally divided by white and red - white in the top and fly, red in the hoist and bottom. | |
 | Flag of the University of Edinburgh | A blue saltire on a white field, with a thistle in the upper quarter, a castle in the lower quarter, and an open book in the centre of the saltire. It is a banner of the University's coat of arms. | |
 | Flag of the University of Glasgow | ||
 | Flag of the University of St Andrews | A banner of the University's coat of arms. |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board | A Blue Ensign defaced with a lighthouse | |
 | Commissioner's flag of the Northern Lighthouse Board | A White Ensign with a pre-1801 Union Flag in the canton, defaced with a lighthouse | |
 | Flag of the Church of Scotland | The flag of Scotland with the burning bush in the centre. | |
 | Flag of the Diocese of Brechin | A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms. | |
 | Flag of the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement | The flag of Scotland on the left side of a red flag, with a golden Triquetra knot in the centre of the red section. |
The saltire appears to have become the official national flag in 1385 when the Parliament of Scotland agreed that Scottish soldiers should wear the white cross as a distinguishing mark. In such times flags and banners were important to identify opposing forces in heat of battle.
The Union Jack or Union Flag is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. The flag continues to have official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is known as the Royal Union Flag. However, it is commonly referred to in Canada as the Union Jack.
The flag of Scotland is the national flag of Scotland, which consists of a white saltire defacing a blue field. The Saltire, rather than the Royal Standard of Scotland, is the correct flag for all private individuals and corporate bodies to fly. It is also, where possible, flown from Scottish Government buildings every day from 8:00 am until sunset, with certain exceptions.
The only official flag for Northern Ireland is the Union Flag or Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom; there is no official local flag that represents only Northern Ireland. The flying of various flags in Northern Ireland is a significant sectarian issue, with different communities identifying with different flags.
The royal standard of the United Kingdom is the banner of arms of the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently Charles III. It consists of the monarch's coat of arms in flag form, and is made up of four quarters containing the arms of the former kingdoms of England, Ireland, and Scotland. There are two versions of the banner, one used in Scotland in which the Scottish quarters take precedence, and one used elsewhere in which the English quarters take precedence.
The national flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Jack, also known as the Union Flag.
In Scotland, "baron" or "baroness" is a rank of the ancient nobility of the Baronage of Scotland, a hereditary title of honour, and refers to the holder of a barony, formerly a feudal superiority or prescriptive barony attached to land erected into a free barony by Crown Charter, this being the status of a minor baron, recognised by the crown as noble, but not a peer.
The flag of Shetland is a white or silver Nordic cross on a blue background. The flag uses the colours of the flag of Scotland, but in the form of the Nordic cross in order to symbolise Shetland's historical and cultural ties with Scandinavia. The official recommended colour of the flag of Scotland is Pantone 300, which implies that this would be appropriate for the Shetland flag too, though the Flag Institute lists the colour as a similar Pantone 286. It was created by Roy Grønneberg and Bill Adams in 1969, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the transfer of the islands from Norway in the Kalmar Union to Scotland and the 500 years before as part of Norway.
The Royal Banner of the Royal Arms of Scotland, also known as the Royal Banner of Scotland, or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland, and historically as the Royal Standard of Scotland, or Banner of the King of Scots, is the royal banner of Scotland, and historically, the royal standard of the Kingdom of Scotland. Used historically by the Scottish monarchs, the banner differs from Scotland's national flag, the Saltire, in that its official use is restricted by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland to only a few Great Officers of State who officially represent the Monarchy in Scotland. It is also used in an official capacity at royal residences in Scotland when the Head of State is not present.
Uxbridge and South Ruislip is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its 2010 creation. The seat has been held by Danny Beales of the Labour Party since July 2024.
The Northern Ireland flags issue is one that divides the population along sectarian lines. Depending on political allegiance, people identify with differing flags and symbols, some of which have, or have had, official status in Northern Ireland.
The Flag Institute is a membership organisation and UK-registered educational charity devoted to the study and promotion of flags and flag flying. It documents flags in the UK and around the world, maintains a UK Flag Registry, and offers advice and guidance about flags and their design and usage. It is often consulted on these matters but holds no official status or authority.
Saint Patrick's Saltire or Saint Patrick's Cross is a red saltire on a white field. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned argent, a saltire gules. Saint Patrick's Flag is a flag composed of Saint Patrick's Saltire. The origin of the saltire is disputed. Its association with Saint Patrick dates from the 1780s, when the Anglo-Irish Order of Saint Patrick adopted it as an emblem. This was a British chivalric order established in 1783 by George III. It has been suggested that it derives from the arms of the powerful Geraldine or FitzGerald dynasty. Some Irish nationalists and others reject its use to represent Ireland as a "British invention" "for a people who had never used it".
The Flag of Sussex is the flag of the traditional and historic county of Sussex. The flag was registered by the Flag Institute on Friday 20 May 2011 as a 'traditional' county flag as a result of a campaign started in August 2010, by Sussex resident Brady Ells, with support from his father, David. The Flag was certified by Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram. It was first flown officially on Saturday 28 May 2011 at Lewes Castle. and was flown from the Department of Communities and Local Government at Eland House, London on Sussex Day, 16 June 2011.
The Sutherland flag is the flag of the Scottish county of Sutherland. It was revealed on 14 December 2018 as the winner of a competition in which over 3,000 people from the county voted.
The East Lothian flag is the flag of the Scottish county of East Lothian (Haddingtonshire). It was registered with the Flag Institute on 13 December 2018 following its announcement at a reception hosted by the Lord Provost.
The flags of cities, towns and villages in the United Kingdom lists the flags of locations in the United Kingdom that are registered by the Flag Institute. Towns and village flags are rare in the United Kingdom, but they are a very colourful addition to national vexillology. The Flag Institute has registered 45 city and village flags as of 2024.
Philip Tibbetts is a British officer of arms and vexillologist who currently serves as the March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary at the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland. He was appointed to the office on 1 September 2021, and is also the first person to hold the position of Honorary Vexillologist to the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Media related to Flags of Scotland at Wikimedia Commons
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